OF MANY THINGS 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 e assumed his high office in a all Jesuits would tell you that Father Ph: (212) 581-4640; Fax: (212) 399-3596 time of unprecedented change Kolvenbach’s humility, holiness, Subscriptions: (800) 627-9533 www.americamedia.org and challenge. At first, no integrity and savvy diplomacy were what facebook.com/americamag H twitter.com/americamag one who voted for him really expected stabilized the Society after one of the him to win. The outcome frightened roughest periods of our history. Without President and Editor in Chief some and reassured others. The man his serenity and savvy, we would have Matt Malone, S.J. Executive Editors was Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., the been very much at sea. We owe him Robert C. Collins, S.J., Maurice Timothy Reidy 29th superior general of the Society of more than we could ever repay.” Managing Editor Kerry Weber Jesus, who died last month at the age of It’s safe to say that without Peter- Literary Editor Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. Senior Editor and Chief Correspondent 87. He had been a Jesuit for 68 years, Hans Kolvenbach, there would be no Kevin Clarke serving as superior general for nearly a Pope Francis. Thirty years ago there was Editor at Large James Martin, S.J. quarter-century. a profound rupture in the relationship Creative Director Shawn Tripoli Dutch by birth, German and Italian between the papacy and the Society of Executive Editor, America Films Jeremy Zipple, S.J. by genes, Father Kolvenbach was elected Jesus. Today the pope is a Jesuit. That Poetry Editor Joseph Hoover, S.J. superior general in a time of crisis. the College of Cardinals would entrust Associate Editor and Vatican Correspondent Church officials, including Pope John the governance of the universal church Gerard O’Connell Associate Editor and Director of Digital Paul II, had grown suspicious of the to a Jesuit is a testament to Father Strategy Sam Sawyer, S.J. Jesuits under the leadership of Father Kolvenbach’s tireless efforts to reconcile Associate Editor & Director of Audience evelopment Eric Sundrup, S.J. Pedro Arrupe, Kolvenbach’s immediate the Society with the church and pontiff D Senior Editor Edward W. Schmidt, S.J. predecessor. The Jesuits had lost their it exists to serve. Associate Editors Ashley McKinless, Olga way, some thought, especially in Latin After 25 grace-filled years, Father Segura, Robert David Sullivan Associate Editor, Film José Dueño, S.J. America, where the sons of Ignatius Kolvenbach had a “Simeon moment”: Let Assistant Editor Joseph McAuley had embraced liberation theology. your servant go in peace, he told us, as he Art Director Sonja Kodiak Wilder At the height of the Cold War, they became the first Jesuit superior general Editorial Assistant for Digital Media wondered why any Catholic, let alone to resign from office. Many insiders say Zachary Davis Editorial Assistant Eloise Blondiau a priest, would associate himself with that Father Kolvenbach’s resignation O’Hare Fellows Teresa Donnellan, Nicholas a movement that, in part, had Marxist paved the way for Pope Benedict XVI's Genovese, Wyatt Massey Columnists Helen Alvaré, John J. Conley, S.J., underpinnings. resignation in 2013. When asked what Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., James T. Keane, John W. Just a few months after the he would do in retirement, Kolvenbach Martens, Bill McGarvey, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, assassination attempt on John Paul replied: whatever my superiors ask me Margot Patterson, Nathan Schneider National Correspondent Michael O’Loughlin in 1981, Father Arrupe suffered a to do. He spent his final years as the Regional Correspondents John Carr (Wash- devastating stroke that ended his active assistant librarian for the Jesuit university ington), Anthony Egan, S.J., and Russell Pollitt, S.J. (Johannesburg), Jim McDermott, S.J. (Los ministry. Forces in the Roman Curia in Beirut. Angeles), Timothy Padgett (Miami), David Stewart, S.J. (London), Rhona Tarrant (Dublin), Judith allied against the Jesuits seized the In one of his final interviews, given in Valente (Chicago) moment to call the ecclesial equivalent these pages in 2007, Father Kolvenbach Moderator, Catholic Book Club of a time-out. The pope intervened shared with us what he had learned Kevin Spinale, S.J. directly in the governance of the Society, through his time as general: “Jesuits are Editor, The Jesuit Post Michael Rossmann, S.J. Editorial e-mail suspending its constitutions and not as brilliant and excellent as people [email protected] bypassing Father Arrupe’s presumptive believe us to be, and we are not the Publisher and Chief Financial Officer successor. After an anxious two years, liberals, protesters and free-thinkers Edward G. Spallone Deputy Publisher Rosa M. Del Saz Vice President for the pope at last gave permission for the some like to say we are.” The key to who Advancement Daniel Pawlus Advertising Jesuits to hold a general congregation we are, he said, is our living relationship Sales Manager Chris Keller Advancement and elect a new leader. with Christ and his church: “I hope and Coordinator Timothy Bouffard Programs and Events Coordinator Nicholas Sawicki But who among the delegates pray that, inspired by the experience of Business Operations Staff Glenda Castro, possessed the necessary holiness, St. Ignatius in the Spiritual Exercises, we Ryan Richardson, Anastasia Buraminskaya Advertising Contact ads@americamedia. gravitas, humility and aplomb that the can continue this mission, which leads org; 212-515-0102 Subscription contact and moment required? Who could heal Jesuits, other religious and laypeople to Additional copies 1-800-627-9533 Reprints: [email protected] the breach? The task fell to Father a personal encounter with the Lord, the © 2016 America Press Inc. Kolvenbach. As Joseph M. McShane, origin of our vocation and of our mission

S.J., president of Fordham University, in the world.” R.I.P. Cover: Martin Scorsese. America Films/Jeremy recently told America: “Most if not MATT MALONE, S.J. Zipple Contents www.americamagazine.org VOL. 215 NO. 19 WHOLE NO. 5151 December 19-26, 2016

ARTICLES 16 CREATING ‘SILENCE’ An interview with Martin Scorsese James Martin

21 A MISSING MEMORIAL How should Chicago properly honor Emmett Till? Carolyn Alessio

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 16 5 Editorial Fear Not! 6 Reply All 9 Signs of the Times

14 Column Peace Over Politics Margot Patterson 24 Vatican Dispatch No “Reform of the Reform” Gerard O’Connell 25 Faith in Focus The End of Despair Joe Watson Jr. 28 Philosopher’s Notebook Teachers Who Teach John J. Conley 38 The Word The Right Word; Keep and Ponder Michael R. Simone

21 BOOKS & CULTURE

29 TELEVISION “A Charlie Brown Christmas’” POEM Adoration of the Christ Child BOOKS A Culture of Engagement; Prophecy Without Contempt; The Salvador Option; Almighty

ON THE WEB An exclusive video interview the newly elected superior general of the Society of Jesus, Arturo Sosa, S.J. Plus, Nathan Schneider asks: Is it time for a Spotify for news? Full digital highlights on page 37 and at americamagazine.org 29 CURRENT COMMENT

admission has adapted to the changing needs and crises of The Right to Data the times. Today’s humanitarian crises in the Middle East One of the signs of a functioning democracy is confidence should be similarly addressed with a generous, judicious in data from the government. The United States has several resettlement policy, especially since so much of the disorder agencies that let us know “what’s going on,” to use a favorite in the region has been the result of reckless U.S. geopolitical phrase of President-elect Donald J. Trump. The Census decisions. No civilized society can remain indifferent to the Bureau remains the gold standard for information about clear suffering of so many at this time, but no program can topics like poverty, household income and the persistence of be foolproof. The risk will always remain that an extremist racial segregation. Other sources of data about our nation, actor may infiltrate the resettlement system. and our universe, include the F.B.I., NASA and the Centers But the Christian life cannot be lived without risk, and for Disease Control and Prevention. risk itself can take many forms. It is worth noting that the It is impossible to debate public policy without agreement young Somali man behind the attack at Ohio State was on facts. Unfortunately, Mr. Trump had a habit on the apparently “self-radicalized” after his arrival in the United campaign trail of passing on debunked numbers to support States, not before. Indifference to vast human suffering and his own rhetoric—saying, for example, of the Bureau of antipathy to all Muslims based on the actions of a minority Labor Statistics, “Don’t believe those phony numbers are not without risks of their own. when you hear 4.9 and 5 percent unemployment…. I even heard recently 42 percent.” He continues to be unaware or dismissive of government data on crime and immigration, Social Mediation and he essentially accused state election departments of a This Christmas season, many of us will find ourselves massive conspiracy when he retold a story about millions of scrolling through social media feeds filled with countless votes being cast fraudulently in the presidential election. pictures of holiday cheer. Does this window into the Mr. Trump’s cavalier attitude toward statistics is festivities of friends and acquaintances help us to share in worrisome because many agencies on which we rely for the joy of the season or make us feel left out in the cold? accurate data are directly or indirectly supervised by Like any technology, it depends on how we use it. presidential appointees. For instance, the president names In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics the director of the Census Bureau, who must be confirmed introduced the term “Facebook depression,” described as by the Senate. It would be preferable to minimize political “depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a pressure on data-collection agencies. A good model is great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook.” the Government Accountability Office, which monitors In a new study from Lancaster University, researchers government spending and whose head is appointed to a delved deeper into the emotional effects of social media, 15-year term. For now, it is important that journalists, studying 35,000 participants from 14 countries. Among and Congress, do what they can to make sure that federal the negative behavior researchers detected were accepting agencies continue to report valuable data without political friend requests from ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends or spin or favoritism. former friends. David Baker, one of the lead researchers, said, “We found that comparing yourself with people on Risk Factors social media was more likely to make you feel depressed A disturbed Somali teenager who had come to the United than comparing yourself offline.” States with his mother and six siblings in 2014 went on a Comparing yourself with other people is never a good rampage at The Ohio State University on Nov. 28. He was idea, and unfortunately social media make it all too easy. But quickly gunned down by police but not before he used his it also allows people to discover and receive support from car and a knife to injure 11 people. The incident is sure to virtual communities. Someone who is clinically depressed or encourage more calls for restrictions on refugees and attacks who is a survivor of sexual assault can find support groups on faith groups that facilitate resettlement or advocate on on platforms like Twitter or Tumblr. Friends and family behalf of refugees. But that short-sighted response, fixed on can connect across countries and oceans with the click of absolute security and suspicious of members of the Muslim a button. While we should continue to study the effects of community, will only exacerbate tensions that can lead to social media, it is important to remember that we can also acts of extremism. use sites like Facebook for building relationships to support Since the end of World War II, U.S. policy on refugee and strengthen each other.

4 America December 19-26, 2016 EDITORIAL Fear Not!

he recent presidential election unearthed a stratum migrants and refugees of anxiety and fear that extends across the country today, Mary, Joseph and Tlike a vein of ore. There is the fear of the person their newborn son are living in a declining industrial town who watches as jobs forced to flee again after migrate overseas and wonders how he or she will provide a violent ruler threatens food, clothing and health care for the family. There is the their very lives. fear of the migrant who seeks to support his or her family Jesus himself, on a minimum-wage job, whose anxiety is compounded by during his 30 years of the possibility of deportation. There is the fear of an Ameri- ordinary life in Nazareth, would have known fear. We can can society in decline and an erosion of any truly meaningful presume that Joseph died before Jesus began his public sense of public morality and community, particularly in the ministry: He is nowhere on the scene in the Gospels, unlike wake of a poisonous election season. Across the world there Jesus’ mother and his “brothers and sisters.” His death would is the fear of those who wonder where their next meal will have injected a note of worry into a poor family in the small come from and the real fear of unending, catastrophic vio- village. And surely Jesus’ extended family—aunts, uncles, lence in places like Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan. cousins—knew what it was like to live both on the economic Into this world comes Jesus Christ—through the edge, as they eked out a living, and on the political edge, in gracious presence of the Holy Spirit, through the church and an occupied territory. its sacraments and through the love and care of Christians Into a world crowded with fear Jesus comes to proclaim for their fellow human beings. Into this world, we believe, an end to fear. He proclaims this not only in his words, when Jesus Christ, will come again in his glory. he says repeatedly, “Fear not.” He proclaims it not only in But over 2,000 years ago, into this world came Jesus his deeds, where his miracles remove the need for fear both Christ. in healings, where years of fear vanish, and in the nature Christians sometimes feel guilty about fear, seeing it as miracles, where the storms that threatened to swamp rickety a sign of weak faith. If only they trusted in God more, they boats evaporate. He also proclaims it in his incarnation and think, they would not be fearful. But the Gospels are replete birth. with stories of fear, even among those who knew Jesus best. The Nativity means many things—God became The disciples shrink in fear when Jesus stills a storm: “They human, God is with us, God is among us, but also, as the were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this, then, who angel declared to Mary, nothing is impossible with God. The can command the wind and waves?’” (Mk 4:41). When they tiny infant in the rough-hewn manger will grow up to be the spy him walking on water, they feel the same: “‘It is a ghost!’ greatest of rulers. The powerless one dependent on a poor they said, and cried out in fear” (Mt 14:26). young woman for sustenance will become the all-powerful The Nativity narrative also includes stories that hint one who bring riches to all who believe. The one who feeds at fear. Mary’s first reaction to the Angel Gabriel is often will become our food. It is no accident that he sleeps in a translated as “perplexed,” but there was probably no little manger, a word meaning “to eat.” fear involved. Otherwise, why would the angel say, “Do not Jesus understands fear. He understands us when in be afraid” (Lk 1:28-9)? Pregnant mothers in precarious prayer we confess our worst fears to him. But he tells us social situations know this fear. that hope is stronger than despair, love is stronger than hate, When Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant, a and life is stronger than death. Nothing—not poverty, not dream tells him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as injustice, not cruel rulers like Herod—can thwart God’s your wife” (Mt 1:20). Fathers who worry over their families’ desires in the world. But we must participate in those desires future know this fear. On their way from Nazareth to because God acts through us. Bethlehem, since travelers had a great deal to fear from To those who lived in that world of fear, it must have robbers in those days, Mary and Joseph worry as they wend seemed absurd that an infant would be the answer to their their way through a violent land in search of a safe place fear. But, improbably enough, it was true. For nothing is

“ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS,” BY GERARD VAN HONTHORST (1622). PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ POMERANIA STATE MUSEUM/GOOGLE ART PROJECT MUSEUM/GOOGLE ART HONTHORST (1622). PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ POMERANIA STATE OF THE SHEPHERDS,” BY GERARD VAN “ADORATION for their child. Migrants know this fear. And like many impossible with God.

December 19-26, 2016 America 5 REPLY ALL sary of the death of Connolly, it was of cultural identity at worship help my honor to prepare a stage adapta- all of us to remember that we are all Wealth in a Paperback tion of Mr. Blue as a commemorative created in God's image. The church Re “How the World Will End,” by Paul reading directed by George Drance, has much to gain, in the words of the Almonte (11/28): Sixty years ago in a S.J., and performed with actors at the late liturgist and musician the Rev. high school senior English class, Sister Dramatists Guild of America in New Clarence Joseph Rivers, “from the re- Rose Margaret recommended a small York. In attendance were Connolly freshing, renewing and inspirational jewel of a paperback: Mr. Blue. It was family members, including his daugh- experience that Black [Catholic] wor- love at first “read.” Who wouldn’t love ter, Mary Connolly Briener, who wrote ship is and can be.” J. Blue? Sister’s additional recommen- the preface to the new print edition. BORETA SINGLETON dation, Gift From the Sea, completed a (See America’s article “A Journey Online Comment duet of treasured classics that remains With Mr. Blue,” by Michael V. Tueth on my shelf. Rereading them at various (5/29/14). Last year, the Sheen In Full Swing stages of my life has awarded new in- Center provided two readings of the Re “Northern Warning” by James T. sights, literary pleasures and—dare I play, again under the masterful direc- Keane (11/21): Mr. Keane's good ar- add—graces. Thank you Sister Rose tion of George Drance. ticle on how American Catholics are Margaret, Myles Connolly and Anne What’s next? How about a full turning to secularism, as are the mod- Morrow Lindbergh, respectively. stage production to introduce this ern Québecois, ignores something too Reading the concluding paragraph charismatic character to new audienc- readily ignored in the United States: of Mr. Blue, I tucked between those es? Where are the theatrical angels to intellectual culture. last pages a personal reflection: “I like make it happen? As J. Blue himself Firstly, the change in Quebec was to believe that J. Blue is not dead but said: “Anything’s possible!” not a matter of 1968—it was in full alive in each of our souls—alive as so MARY KAY WILLIAMS swing with what was and is still called many sparks of an eternal flame.” Richmond, Va. the Quiet Revolution, beginning in My conviction holds. What a wealth 1960. But even that came 12 years af- contained in a 65-cent paperback. Buyer’s Remorse ter Le Refus Global of 1948, a man- Thank you for your review ofMr. Blue. Re “The Change is Us,” by Robert ifesto against clerical connivance with Such heroes, begotten by gifted writ- David Sullivan (11/28): I do not capitalist domination, signed by the ers, deserve eternal life. think our best days are behind us, but painter Paul-Emile Borduas and other BRETTA RIBBING I do not see a tendency to look for- important artists and intellectuals. Manchester, Mo. ward to the future with hope. Instead Ultimately, the Québecois hostili- of net-zero energy buildings with so- ty toward the church can be traced to Theatrical Angels lar power and electric cars (or good the British settlement, by which only It is good news that Myles Connolly’s public transportation), we are acting Catholic clergy were legally permitted has been reissued this year Mr. Blue like the "good old days" really existed to speak French. through Cluny Classics. In 1928 and we need ever more mining of fos- JOSEPH MASHECK, Myles Connolly foresaw the crisis of sil fuels. New York, N.Y. faith, the need for solidarity with the LISA WEBER poor, the rise of agnosticism and the Online Comment Failure to Address emptiness of the arts when devoid of An interesting article by Mr. Keane, faith. In God’s Image and so true. The sexual abuse scandal Another Connolly prediction noted Re “A Crossroads in Oakland,” by in the church is still on the front burn- by Mr. Paul Almonte in his review was Kaya Oakes (11/21): The Second er. The failure to address it directly is that the “new masses” would not have Vatican Council calls us to encour- still on the minds of most Catholics. In time for the printed word. If Connolly age liturgical celebrations that honor the minds of the laity, the church hier- is correct on this one too, then why not the worshiping community regard- archy is elitist, sly and not to be trust- meet the amazing Mr. Blue through less of race or ethnicity. In my own ed. The young people feel this. live theater? experience as an African-American ROBERT HARRISON Two years ago, on the 50th anniver- Catholic, I have seen that expressions Online Comment Correction: The byline for “The Heart Beat,” by Elizabeth Dias (11/14), did not make clear that the Hunt Prize is co-sponsored by the Saint Thomas More Chapel & Center at Yale University, where the lecture was delivered. In the same article, the photo of Ms. Dias should have been credited to Robert A. Lisak.

6 America December 19-26, 2016 Desperate Need had to take, which were sometimes fol- including two in state universities. The Re “Correction Course” (11/14): lowed by disappointment and at other fact is that there are still people in our Donald Lee has written a refreshing, times by great joy. Like Father Martin, discipline for whom the literal under- honest and meaningful article about the there are times I scaled the heights and standing of philosophy as the “love of desperate need for prison reform in the found the view breathtaking and oth- wisdom” is meaningful. One just needs United States. ers when I found the change terrible. to know where to find such teachers. Mr. Lee is correct that recidivism And yet, in retrospect, I can see that The second issue is this: Father rates are very high in most states; pris- many of those changes were needed, Sanks wisely notes it is problematic oners released today have at least a 60 and I can now rejoice in them. to be stressing a context that is geo- percent chance of returning to prison (REV.) GEORGE STAMM centric and anthropocentric at a time within three years. The cost of main- Diocese of Eau Claire, Wis. characterized by awareness of the “new, taining one prisoner per year is so high. post-Hubble cosmology.” But unfortu- Clearly something must be done to al- Feminist Catholic Theology nately, he omits any reference to anoth- leviate this evil situation in our criminal Upon reading the thoughtful essay by er centered perspective that is at least as justice system. T. Howland Sanks, S.J.,“Fully Formed” old as and arguably most damaging to First, we need to set up drug treat- (9/26), two issues stand out for me. our theology: androcentrism. ment courts in all counties that would The first is his dismissal of “academ- Thankfully, however, we live in an help addicts recover their sobriety. ic philosophy” as “no longer [giving] era where the consciousness-distort- Second, we need educational programs a broad understanding of the human ing view of a male-centered universe in all prisons, as a way to help each pris- condition.” It is true—as perhaps it has is not only recognized but rigorously oner discover his own sense of worth ever been—that the practice of some critiqued by a multitude of scholars by pursuing a high school or college who teach philosophy in the acade- both here and abroad. To name just a degree. Third, we need to incentivize my can be so characterized, but it is a small sampling of resources that can businesses to hire recovered addicts and mistake to assume that in those groves add both breadth and depth to semi- former criminals after they have served nothing else can be found under the nary education, consider, for example: their time. rubric “philosophy.” For nearly 40 years Catherine Mowry LaCugna's “Catholic I am fortunate to volunteer at my I taught in three different programs, Women as Ministers and Theologians,” local prison. Most of the published by America in prisoners I meet are youths 1992; the recently pub- who have made a mistake lished book by Barbara and need a mentor to advise E. Reid, O.P., Wisdom's them as to their life goals. I Feast: An Invitation to pray Mr. Lee will succeed Feminist Interpretation in his new life goals. of the Scriptures; and the EDWARD J. THOMPSON, Liturgical Press's com- SR. mitment to publish the Gettysburg, Pa. Wisdom Commentary on the Bible. All Is Well Admittedly, some sem- I always enjoy reading any- inarians may find these thing James Martin, S.J., feminist works unnerving. writes. “Not Yet a Saint” Such students perhaps (10/24) is no exception. could be eased into an en- The cleaning of two counter that, while painful, Jesuit churches makes a is necessary by their first fine example of the spir- reading Catholic Women itual journey we must all Speak, the book incisive- make in our life times. My ly reviewed by America’s own spiritual journey as an own Luke Hansen, S.J., in Episcopal priest has had the 11/28 issue. its ups and downs. There BARBARA PARSONS

CARTOON: BOB ECKSTEIN CARTOON: have been the risks I have Seriously, who IS watching our borders? Platteville, Wis.

December 19-26, 2016 America 7 8 America December 19-26, 2016 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SOCIETY OF JESUS That mutual historical experience, he said, “takes very seriously the faith Jesuits: Models of Reconciliation of the people...takes very seriously the community life as the base of the For a World in Need of Mercy church life, takes very seriously the re- spect for the other and very seriously SUPERIOR WISDOM. Arturo Sosa, S.J., left, newly elected superior general of the Jesuits, is interviewed in Rome by Matt Malone, S.J., of America. tries to make the social justice a prac- tical commitment of the church, of the society.” A Jesuit pope creates special op- portunities and connections for the Society to be of service to the whole church, Father Sosa said, “because [Pope Francis] knows and he practices very well the Ignatian spirituality. He talks all the time about that—about discernment, about consolation, about desolation, about reconciliation.” “And also he is a person very com- mitted to the Vatican II view of the church,” the father general added: “all the synodality—[that] this is a co-re- sponsibility.” “This is a man who understands very well the role of the religious life in the church. So for the Society it’s real- ly an opportunity to be used.” On Nov. 26, just a few days be- fore the two Jesuits spoke in Rome, a former superior general, Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., passed away in n a world of conflict, deeply in need of the mercy frequently implored by Pope Lebanon. Francis, Jesuits can be agents of reconciliation and dialogue, the Society’s new Father Kolvenbach had accepted in Isuperior general said in an exclusive interview with America. 1983 the burden of leading the Society Arturo Sosa, S.J., elected on Oct. 14 superior general for the Society of Jesus, during a time of strained relations told America’s editor in chief, Matt Malone, S.J., that he believes the far-flung with the pope at the time, John Paul II. Jesuits can be models of discernment, adaptability and “the very rich experience Describing the late Father Kolvenbach of...multiculturality” for the church and the world, especially in those regions of as both “father and brother” to him, conflict where Jesuits are present. Father Sosa said he would be remem- He spoke with Father Malone in Rome on Nov. 28. bered for his openness to dialogue and Father Sosa, born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1948, is the first Jesuit from Latin his sensitivity during a difficult time. America to be elected to the office, which is usually a lifetime position. His election “He made this kind of tension be- comes as the church is experiencing its first Latin American pope. He suggests this tween being in fidelity to the pope and historic moment represents an invitation “to see the Latin American church” and being in fidelity to the discernment of the progress it has made since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). the Society about the mission of faith “Jorge Mario Bergoglio—Pope Francis—and myself, we’re sons of a church and justice.” He added that the late and a living church. The Latin American church has made a very nice process after father general “opened the Society” to Vatican II. We were formed in that process—the pope and myself—in different dialogue with other cultures. “He was points in Latin America.” very aware of the importance [of other

December 19-26, 2016 America 9 SIGNS OF THE TIMES traditions]—different from the Latin he said. He described it as a deeply In the statement released by the tradition—in the church. spiritual experience, of “being in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and After the shock of being elected su- hands of God.” Universities, the presidents wrote, perior general, he said, he quickly came “If we take seriously that the Spirit “Grounded in our Catholic and Jesuit to feel at peace with the decision of his talks in the election...that gives me mission, we are guided by our com- brother Jesuits, partly because of his peace,” he said. “It was not my desire; mitment to uphold the dignity of every confidence in the system of discern- it was not my plan; I didn’t want to person, to work for the common good ment applied by Jesuits to the election. do that. So it’s really like a call from of our nation and to promote a living “It’s a time of praying, of discern- the Spirit through my brothers, the faith that works for justice.” ment, of dialogue among the electors,” Society.” The presidents said that their insti- tutional roles represented a sacred trust that “prompts us to labor for solidarity HIGHER EDUCATION among all people and especially with and for the poor and marginalized of A Pledge to Protect ‘Dreamers’ our society...[and] calls us to embrace residents of 27 Jesuit colleges widespread deportations of undocu- the entire human family, regardless of and universities pledged them- mented people. The DACA provisions their immigration status or religious Pselves to “protect to the fullest had been implemented by the Obama allegiance.” extent of the law undocument- The presidents said that in ed students on our campus- addition to the spiritual and es” and to “promote retention moral call to defend DACA, of the Deferred Action for “experience has shown us that Childhood Arrivals Program” our communities are immea- in a statement released on Nov. surably enriched by the pres- 30. The presidents said they ence, intelligence, and commit- also would “support and stand ted contributions of undocu- with our students, faculty and mented students, as well as of staff regardless of their faith faculty and staff of every color traditions.” and from every faith tradition.” The Jesuit statement joins Regarding a potential feder- two other recent position state- al pushback against the insti- ments from university presi- tutions because of their stand dents who have taken a stand in FAMILY DISUNION. Immigration advocates demonstrate on undocumented students for deferring deportation plans in front of the White support of the nation’s so-called House in Washington in December 2015. once the new administration Dreamers, young adults who moves into power in January, had been brought without documenta- administration to address the special the A.J.C.U. spokesperson, Deanna tion into the United States as children. case of adults brought as children into Howes, said, “Certainly the presidents One statement, signed by more than 70 the United States. Many face deporta- are aware of the political climate and college and university presidents, was tion to countries and cultures they have things that are going on right now, but released through the Association of never known. as the statement says: This is part of Catholic Colleges and Universities. In an attempt to head off the possible our Jesuit heritage and mission”—to The school presidents acted in an- intervention against DACA by the in- support all students regardless of their ticipation of a crackdown on undocu- coming Trump administration, Senator legal status. She described the position mented young people when President- Lindsey Graham, Republican of South as “very much in keeping with the char- elect Donald J. Trump assumes office Carolina, is readying legislation that acter of Jesuit institutions.” in January. Many worry that the pres- would extend legal protections to the Signatories to the A.J.C.U. state- ident-elect may follow through on 740,000 young people who have been ment included all the member presi- campaign pledges to rescind President shielded from deportation by President dents with the exception of William Obama’s executive orders and seek Obama’s 2012 executive order. Leahy, S.J., of Boston College.

10 America December 19-26, 2016 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Jack Dunn, the Boston College spokesperson, said Father Leahy’s sup- NEWS BRIEFS port for DACA should not be in doubt Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., who served from because of that omission. “Father has 1983 to 2008 as the 29th Superior General of the clearly stated his position, that he ful- Society of Jesus, died in Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. ly supports DACA, and that’s what’s 26, just four days shy of his 88th birthday. • In a re- important,” Mr. Dunn said, pointing port released on Nov. 30, Caritas Europa charged out that the Boston College president that austerity policies have left 120 million people in had already “expressed his support for Europe “living in or at risk of poverty...a clear indi- DACA within the Boston College cation that current social protection systems are not Peter-Hans community and, having signed two keeping their promise.” • Colombia’s Congress rat- Kolvenbach statements before the A.J.C.U.’s state- ified arevised peace agreement with FARC rebels ment was released, believed that was on Nov. 30, the apparent epilogue to four years of negotiations, a sufficient.” stunning referendum-rejection and last-minute compromises. • Pax Christi International called for a new peace process between Israelis and Palestinians and a return to a dialogue “rooted in mutual re- Post-Castro Church spect for human rights and the dignity of the other” in a statement Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of released on Dec. 1. • After the deaths of more than 9,100 Haitians, Miami was one of the first Catholic outgoing U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon apologized on Church officials to respond on Nov. Dec. 1 for the United Nations’ role in the spread of cholera in Haiti, 26 after the death of Fidel Castro. “The but stopped short of admitting that U.N. peacekeepers brought the death of this figure should lead us to in- disease to the country in 2010. voke the patroness of Cuba, the Virgin of Charity, calling for peace for Cuba and its people,” he said in a statement. made the announcement on Dec. 2. he called “ghost towns” during a recent Later that day at Ermita de la Caridad, Father Rother, born March 27, 1935, visit to northern Iraq. He said by email a Miami shrine that honors Cuba’s pa- on his family’s farm near Okarche, that there was little left in some of the tron, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Okla., was gunned down on July 28, communities that he toured on Nov. he said, “The Cuban people are a noble 1981, in a Guatemalan village where 27-29 and that “the emptiness of the people but also a people who suffer.” he ministered to the poor. He had streets except for military people...the Referring to recent moments in the gone to Santiago Atitlan in 1968 on devastation and burned-out houses and history of the island, when Catholics assignment from the Archdiocese of churches” was shocking. About 100,000 hid their faith fearing persecution by a Oklahoma City. He helped the peo- Christians—among them more than government and a society that looked ple there build a small hospital, school 60,000 Syriac Catholics—were ex- down on religion, he said the Virgin and its first Catholic radio station. As pelled from the Nineveh Plain by the was present in the prayer cards people the violence rose around him, he re- Islamic State group in the summer of hid in their dressers and present with ceived numerous death threats over 2014 as the militants campaigned to those inside and outside Cuba who his opposition to the presence of expand their reach into Iraq. The pa- “fight for respect for human dignity the Guatemalan military in the area. triarch met with the faith community, and to establish a future of freedom, Father Rother chose to remain in his religious leaders and nongovernmental justice and peace.” Guatemalan community, explaining in organizations to discuss the future of a letter back home before his murder, Christianity in northern Iraq. Based on An American Martyr “the shepherd cannot run away at the “what happened in recent times,” the pa- first sign of danger.” triarch noted, “it was the overall opinion Pope Francis has recognized the mar- that none would dare to return, rebuild tyrdom of the Rev. Stanley Rother of and stay in the homeland, unless a safe the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Iraq Devastation zone for the Christian communities in making him the first martyr born in The Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace the Plain of Nineveh is guaranteed.” the United States and clearing the Joseph III Younan said he was horrified

PHOTO BY DON DOLL, S.J. way for his beatification. The Vatican to see widespread devastation and what From America Media, CNS, RNS, AP and other sources.

December 19-26, 2016 America 11 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

DISPATCH | NEW YORK Record Homelessness Hits a High Rent City ew Yorkers can be forgiven if but for most New Yorkers it is sim- to cover her rent, but because of them they believed homelessness ple a gritty place to call home. That is she did not qualify for any other social Nwere a problem consigned to becoming harder to do all the time. A assistance. She eventually stopped pay- the past. Tent cities that in the 1970s study conducted by the Coalition for ing rent as survival expenses like food and ’80s crowded city parks are gone— the Homeless reports that while medi- were prioritized. She decided she had to mostly—and television exposés no lon- an rents in low-income neighborhoods abandon her apartment, but she did not ger shock the public with depictions of shot up 26 percent between 2010 and want to abandon her life in New York subhuman conditions at the city’s infa- 2014, real median household income to double up with relatives in Florida, mous homeless hotels. in those communities fell 7 percent. nor did she want to be a burden on oth- But while the problem of New Where those data points cross, people er family members in the city. York homelessness may be less obvi- are losing their homes. Ms. Rizzo sold her furniture and ous on the streets—depending on the As Nazareth Housing’s director for anything else she could from her apart- neighborhood a visitor may pass ment and prepared to enter the through—it has not only never city’s shelter network. “That was gone away, it is actually spiking to The cause and effect my lowest point,” she remembered, new highs. In September the city’s “sleeping on the floor of my apart- Coalition for the Homeless report- is not hard to discern. ment that night,” knowing the next ed a new daily record of just un- ‘The overarching morning she would be officially der 62,000 people in city shelters, among the city’s homeless. including nearly 16,000 families problem is poverty.’ Fortunately for Ms. Rizzo, she and about 24,000 children. (There quickly connected with Nazareth is no accurate measurement of New Outreach, Prevention and Supportive Housing. Taking full advantage of the York’s larger, unsheltered homeless Housing, Mildred Perez works with various programs facilitated through population, according to the coalition.) people fresh to homelessness or on the Nazareth, she finds herself a few years The Rev. Michael Callaghan is the ex- verge of it. Plenty still lose their homes late, not only in an affordable one-bed- ecutive director of Nazareth Housing, because of classic dilemmas like an un- room apartment with her now teenage a housing assistance and homelessness expected medical crisis, the loss of a job son, but a graduate of City College and prevention service that has long been or death of a spouse. But given how working on her master’s degree. She at work on the crisis. Today’s homeless close to the bone many New Yorkers plans to become a special education people, he says, are often hidden from are forced to live, Ms. Perez has seen teacher. view—women with children escaping families topple into homelessness af- Grateful for all the help she has re- abusive relationships or living doubled, ter paying for a child’s birthday party ceived, Ms. Rizzo stands out as one of tripled, even quadrupled up with fam- or Christmas shopping, even a weekly those heartwarming, homeless turn- ily or friends or sheltering in building supermarket visit—expenses taken for around stories loved by the media, but basements or other improvised places granted by families not as stressed by she remains painfully aware of how ten- that were never intended for human high housing costs. uous her current standing is in a high- habitation. One of the people she worked with rent city like New York. These days, “I For him, the cause and effect of New was Natalie Rizzo. Within a two-year don’t take anything for granted,” Ms. York’s homeless problem is not hard to span as the Great Recession gripped Rizzo says. discern. “The overarching problem is New York and the rest of the nation, She’s content to live in her Lower poverty,” Father Callaghan says. Ms. Rizzo lost her marriage, her job East Side one-bedroom, but would like The big city may have a reputation and finally her home. By 2009 she had to someday to move into a two-bed- as a glittery play-land for the wealthy, been struggling for a year to raise her room that would better suit her family’s young son solo, her only income a $400 needs. That’s the hope anyway. For now KEVIN CLARKE is America’s chief correspon- weekly unemployment check. Two of she knows, that is still a dream she can- dent. those checks a month were not enough not afford. KEVIN CLARKE

12 America December 19-26, 2016

MARGOT PATTERSON Peace Over Politics his Christmas season comes opposition it stirred has the coun- Henry Adams grew up in a family as the breath between two try more divided than it has been in steeped in politics. I hope that politics Tbattles, the political battle decades. His candidacy showed our can be something better than our ha- that just ended with the election of a democracy to be more fragile than treds, that it can be also an expression new president and the one sure to be- we had supposed and underscored of our virtues, but Adams’s statement gin once he takes office. For some op- how baseless are claims made about is as apt in our own time as it was in ponents, who see the election as a call America’s superiority to other coun- his. to mobilize, there is no letup. But for tries. The I-hate-Donald-Trump camp many Americans, this interregnum is As a country, we do not examine and the I-hate-Hillary-Clinton camp a respite, a time to turn away from the our blunders. We ignore them, even seem roughly even today. After the clash of ideas, interests and agendas our biggest ones. By not reflecting on election, the former may have the we have just experienced as a nation. It both our failings and our edge in intensity and overlaps a holy time, a time for silence, many blessings and ad- I hope fury. The impassioned gratitude, humility. That time, and vantages, we lose perspec- opposition to him has that spirit, seem sorely needed. tive. Our problems are real that politics not ceased with his Greatness is a word we heard often but relatively minor when victory, and almost ev- during the last six months. Donald J. compared with those of can be ery day prominent in- Trump campaigned for president on other countries. We are a something dividuals and political the need to restore American great- fortunate people living in groups make statements ness; Hillary Clinton maintained we an imperfect, not-so-great better as to why his election had never lost it. But national great- democracy, as has been than our should be overturned. ness never came about through advo- true from its inception. But unless the Electoral cacy or assertions of it—more often Accepting and acknowl- hatreds. College decides other- it is in response to dire necessity— edging our not-so-great- wise, Donald Trump and the greatness of America is so ax- ness, that as a people we will be our next pres- iomatic among our politicians that it are about average as regards conduct ident. As such, he deserves the good is easy to forget how prone we are as and sometimes worse, might be a sav- will of all Americans, even those who a nation, and as individuals, to arro- ing grace—the beginning of an end to hate him, and the cooperation of gance, ignorance and error. Two failed grandiosity and a rejection, at least for Democrats in Congress when they can wars during the past dozen years, a a time, of the delusions of grandeur to rightly give it. political system that voters in both which we are prone. Donald Trump The acrimony in our country will parties perceive as corrupt and dys- is not the only American to reside in not be easily overcome. Forbearance, functional, a widening gulf between Trumpland, that shining place we go forgiveness, patience, charity—these the haves and have-nots, and a dearth to in our mind where we are forever are not democratic traits but what of imaginative ideas on how to deal strong, justified and righteous. faith urges us to strive for. After 9/11, effectively with these and other chal- “Politics, as a practice, whatever religion was regarded with suspicion. lenges demonstrate our limitations. its professions, had always been the The election may do something simi- The presidential race did not ad- systematic organization of hatreds,” lar for our view of politics, reminding dress those limitations so much Henry Adams wrote more than a us that if politics can inspire our best as highlight them. Mr. Trump’s century ago in his autobiography, The efforts, it can also elicit our worst in- flame-throwing populism won the Education of Henry Adams. The son of stincts. In an increasingly secular soci- Electoral College, but the vehement Lincoln’s ambassador to Great Britain ety, in which many regard religion as during the Civil War and the grandson irrelevant, we still need the peace of MARGOT PATTERSON is a writer who lives in and great-grandson of two presidents, Christ, a peace that is neither created Kansas City, Mo. John Quincy Adams and John Adams, nor destroyed by politics.

14 America December 19-26, 2016 December 19-26, 2016 America 15 Creating ‘Silence’ An interview with Martin Scorsese BY JAMES MARTIN

artin Scorsese, the acclaimed filmmaker, Right around that time, I had gotten involved with [Nikos] has completed a film about 17th-century, Kazantzakis’s book The Last Temptation of Christ. I wanted to Portuguese Jesuits ministering in Japan, make that. By 1988, when that was finally made, and it was based on Shūsaku Endō’s novel Silence. about to be released, there was a great deal of an uproar, and The film, to be released this month, stars we had to show the film, the film at that moment, to differ- MLiam Neeson as Father Cristóvão Ferreira, a Jesuit who re- ent religious groups to show what it was, rather than argu- cants his faith after undergoing torture, and Andrew Garfield ing about it without having seen it. One of the people was and Adam Driver as two younger Jesuits, Fathers Sebastião Archbishop Paul Moore of New York, Episcopal, and he came Rodrigues and Francisco Garupe, respectively, whose mission to a little meeting afterwards at a small dinner we had. He felt is to find their mentor. They, too, find themselves submitted to torture and struggle with whether to apostatize. Early in this interview, Mr. Scorsese spoke about his childhood as a Catholic schoolboy educated by the Sisters of Charity on the Lower East Side of New York, his brief stint at a minor seminary, his love for the church, which he said took him out of the “everyday world,” as well as his early fascination with Maryknoll Missionaries. “I loved what they had to say,” he said about the Maryknolls, “the courage, the testing and the helping.” This interview took place in Mr. Scorsese’s office in New York on Nov. 8 with James Martin, S.J., who served as an adviser to the film. This part of the conversation, edited for length and clarity, focuses on the creation of “Silence” and Mr. Scorsese’s own spiritual journey in making the film. The full interview was filmed and can be viewed online at americamagazine.org.

James Martin, S.J.: When did you run across Silence, the book? that the film was, as he said, “Christologically correct.” Martin Scorsese: I wound up at Cardinal Hayes [High He said, “I’m going to send you a book,” and described School in New York] within two to three years [of leaving some of the stories in [Silence], and he described the con- the minor seminary] and it gave me a structure and a fo- frontation, the “choices,” the concept of apostasy and faith. cus. Somehow at that time also, around 1959 or 1960, the I received the book a few days later, and in 1989, a year possibility of making films became very real. The whole later, is when I read it. industry changed. You could make independent films on By the time I did “Goodfellas,” I had promised the great the East Coast. It wasn’t that way before. So I wound up at Japanese director Akira Kurosawa to be in a film of his Washington Square College, and the passion found its way called “Dreams.” He wanted me to play van Gogh. into the films. “Mean Streets” has a very, very strong religious So I was 15 days over schedule on “Goodfellas.” The content to the picture, and the premise really, and to a cer- studio was furious. We were just scurrying to finish, and tain extent “Taxi Driver” and certainly “Raging Bull,” though Kurosawa was waiting for me in Japan. He was 82 years I didn’t know it. old, and he had just finished the majority of the shooting, and he had only my scene to shoot and he was waiting. JAMES MARTIN, S.J., is editor at large of America and the author of Two days after shooting that film we flew to Tokyo and Jesus: A Pilgrimage; Twitter: @jamesmartinsj. then to Hokkaido, and while I was there I read the book. PHOTO: KERRY BROWN/© 2016 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BROWN/© 2016 PARAMOUNT PHOTO: KERRY

16 America December 19-26, 2016 Above, Martin Scorsese, left, with James Martin, S.J. Left, on the set with Andrew Garfield. Below, Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield in “Silence.”

Actually, I finished it on the bullet train from Tokyo to make it real, stage it, because I didn’t know the heart of it. In Kyoto. other words, I wasn’t able to really interpret it. And I think it took all these years. Because I tried writing a script right So you read Silence in Japan. This is in 1989? away, around 1990. Jay Cox and myself, in 1991, were able 1989. August, September. That’s when I thought, “This to get [the rights], and we were going to make the film right would be an amazing picture to make at some point.” At away; and we got halfway through the script, and I didn’t first I didn’t think so. At first I didn’t really immediate- know what I was doing. I just didn’t know. ly know, while I was reading the book, how to realize it, Then I got sidetracked doing other films: “Age of Innocence.” I owed a film to Universal. I had to do “Casino,” wound up doing “Kundun,” which also was a way of work- ing some of this out. In the meantime, I was always going back to the book. What’s important to understand is that from 1989 to 1990 to 2014, or ’15, when we finally got to shoot the picture, there were many legal problems, and it was a Gordian knot of intricacies, a complicated mess, a legal mess, and so it became more forbidding to do the picture. Some of the people involved wound up in jail. It was not for reasons of dealing with “Silence,” but other business practices. Finally, there were a number of people who worked it out, but it took many years to try to understand, or feel comfortable with, how to visualize the picture, and how to deal with the last sequences of the film. Not just the confrontation at the end, but the epilogue.

You said it took you a while to understand the “heart” of the book. How would you describe the heart of the book?

December 19-26, 2016 America 17 Well, it's the depth of faith. It’s the struggle for the very essence of faith. Stripping away everything else around it. The vehicle that one takes towards faith can be very help- ful. So, the church—the institution of the church, the sacra- ments—this all can be very helpful. But ultimately it has to be yourself, and you have to find it. You have to find that faith, or you have to find a relationship with Jesus with yourself really, because ultimately that’s the one you face.

Right. Father Rodrigues is very free by the end. Yes. He is. But it doesn’t negate in my mind those who choose to live a life according to the rules of an institution, of the institution of the Catholic Church, or however one pro- ceeds in their life with their own beliefs. But ultimately they can’t do it for you. You’ve got to do it yourself. That’s the prob- lem! [Laughs.]

And the invitation. And the invitation, and it keeps calling you.

It does. Every day. It keeps calling you, and it’s in the other people around you. It’s in the people closest to you. This is what it is, and you suddenly get slapped in the face by it, and you say, “Wake up!”

But the shock is, without describing the ending of the movie, that the character finds that what he is about to do, or what he does, is antithetical to what probably all of Christian culture in Europe thinks should be done. That’s right. That’s what was so compelling about telling this story. Because how could you support that? Or how could you champion his choice, his decision? Then you say: “You put yourself in that place. Think about the weakness of the human spirit. The weakness of humanity.” And I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it over the years myself too. I’ve ex- perienced it with people making the same mistakes over and over again, and there are only certain people around them going to help them or be with them. It’s a test. The problem is like in “Mean Streets,” the character Charlie chooses his own penance. You can’t do that. [Laughs.] That’s right, because it’s comfortable to you! [Laughs.]

Often God gives it to you, or life gives it to you. Right. Yes. When you least expect it. And that’s what fascinated me about the decision he makes. It’s such a sweeping decision too. It’s very clear what Right. he does. Yet he has it solely in him. It’s there in his heart. And it becomes an annoyance, and you really say: “No. And it’s there in the book, I know. That’s it.” [Laughs.] You have this book that means so much to you spiritually, Right. It’s not the cross. I said to my spiritual director once, you’re able to work on it and now you see the result. What is “This is not the cross that I would choose,” and he said, “Well, that process like for you spiritually? if it’s the cross you choose, then it's hardly a cross.” Ultimately, it becomes like a pilgrimage. It’s a pilgrim- PICTURES. ALL BROWN/© 2016 PARAMOUNT PHOTOS: KERRY RIGHTS RESERVED.

18 America December 19-26, 2016 Above, a scene from “Silence.” Left, Martin Scorsese and Rodrigo Prieto the cinematographer, right.

age. We’re still on the road and it’s never going to end. I but it’s a different form. Literature is very different from the thought it would for a little while, but once I was there, visual image and the moving image. So could I have done it I realized no. Even in the editing room, it’s unfinished. It page by page almost? It’s almost trying to reach a point in will always be unfinished. which you pull things away rather than putting things in, It’s easy to make a pilgrimage the way I want to make and hopefully the things that are in resonate. But the reso- a pilgrimage [laughs], but it wasn’t easy to make the pil- nating? I’d like to make a film just on one of those vibrations, grimage. It’s not easy to make the film, and there were a so to speak. So for me I don't want to finish it. It’s been way lot of sacrifices. They can't even be fixed in a way, some of over schedule too. I can say that now, but it’s time to finish the things that happened personally, so there were a lot of it. It’s time to finish it, and it’s just time to let it go out there sacrifices to make the picture. Whether it’s a good picture or and people see it. That’ll be good, and take what comes. But not is up to other people, but for me the spirituality helped it’s almost a very private thing. to a certain extent, and it’s something that I would want my children to feel comfortable with in the future. Of course. Now, when you read the book there were some scenes that I’m sure that are very moving to you and that re- Christian spirituality in general? ally affected you on a very deep level. When you see your film Ye s . what kind of reaction do you have to those scenes? There are a few scenes in the film that affect me. There's What you mean by saying the movie is still unfinished? no doubt. The one of the martyrs in the ocean. Well, there are parts of the book I wish I could have shot that we chose not to, that I would have like to have realized, That’s a beautiful scene.

December 19-26, 2016 America 19 While we were there you could feel it. When we were some people would be extremely hostile to it, or at least point shooting it, I’m telling you, you could feel it. out maybe the negative aspects of the “mission,” so to speak. And there have been so many films, so many books on that, What could you feel? going back to “Aguirre, the Wrath of God.” In any event, this You felt the beauty and the spirituality of what was trying goes beyond that, I think. This goes to the very essence of the to be enacted. You could feel it through the actors. Through gift that they brought. Shinya Tsukamoto and Yoshi Oida, Andrew and Adam, it was gut-wrenching and sad and beautiful. Those caves were My sense is that for someone without faith, they are brought beautiful. When we went on location just to check those caves, along on Father Rodrigues’s journey; and he’s a good person, when we were in there, there was a woman in there meditat- and the Japanese Christians are good people. ing. It’s a special place. So we spent a lot of time there, and it They are. Yes. was comforting, in an odd way. It was very moving. And when I see it on film, yes, I get some of that. My sense is that by the end the viewer is with Father Rodrigues, and experiencing it with him, and suffering with him. So it’s less What do you think someone without faith would take from this of a portrayal of the missionary that is just from the outside in, film? and more from the inside out. Look, we know that there will be a lot of people that are When you talk about why did it take me so long to be able going be scathing, I would think—those without faith. The to attempt to put it on the screen, that’s the issue: the inside problem is the certitude, particularly in the modern world; be- out. It wasn’t the obvious story. It really was deeper, as I was cause with technology, we always think...well, I imagine that saying yesterday to somebody. They’d asked again about “Last no matter what point in time, particularly from the Industrial Temptation.” They said, “Do you think this was a direct off- Revolution on, you must have thought that this was the best shoot?” I said, “Well, no. ‘Last Temptation’ was where I was at we can ever do. that time in my own search, and that left off on one track, and In other words, this is the best of all possible worlds and this took up another track. This went deeper.” But I realized we're so advanced. And maybe we're not. after that film, for myself, that I had to go deeper, and it wasn’t But with the technology and the possibility of explaining going to be easy. I don’t say I have gone deeper. I’m just saying spirituality through chemistry of the brain, all of this, I think that I had to try.

That’s interesting. You mean deeper in terms of it being more stripped away? Yes, but also to the very understanding of what compas- sion is about.

Yes, because in the end it’s about the relationship between him and Jesus. Ye s .

You had an early fascination with missionaries. You came into contact with this book about missionaries. You planned to do the film for years and years, and now you’ve finally realized this beautiful project. How has the making of the film influenced your faith life or your spirituality? Well, I think it’s forced me to look at it very closely. That’s an easy phrase. But it’s to contemplate it and to accept that if I’ve gotten to a certain point it's mainly because my life may be ending. Also, there are people around me that are very close to me, and I’m finding that they actually, not intentionally, but they, plus this story, seem to clarify for me what life is. And it’s like a gift in a way. Can I live up to it? I don’t know. I honestly don’t think so, but what you do is you keep trying. Just keep trying. That’s the thing. A

20 America December 19-26, 2016 A Missing Memorial How should Chicago properly honor Emmett Till? BY CAROLYN ALESSIO

Emmett’s mother is a pretty-faced thing; launch the modern civil rights movement. That history— the tint of pulled taffy. and his mother’s courage in showing the world his sicken- She sits in a red room, ing fate—have rendered his grave a hallowed place. Yet the drinking black coffee. marker itself is easy to miss. In other corners of Chicago, the She kisses her killed boy. city’s white titans of industry lie in rest on the regal grounds And she is sorry. of the Rosehill or Graceland cemeteries. Why has the city Chaos in windy grays failed to honor the grave of its most famous martyred son? through a red prairie. Racism, greed and a bizarre graveyard scandal provide parts — Gwendolyn Brooks of the answer. “The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till” From a distance, the only way to spot Till’s flat grave marker is a small metal sign nailed to a wooden stake that oose change and sagging sunflowers decorate says “Emmett Till Memorial Bridge.” Running horizontal- Emmett Till’s modest grave marker at Burr Oak ly near the top of the stake, the sign completes a makeshift Cemetery, just outside of Chicago. After one of cross and refers to the city’s renaming of a highway over- my own teenage students was murdered, the site pass and a section of 71st Street on Chicago’s South Side in became a place of occasional pilgrimage for me. 2005. The area continues to struggle with poverty and gang LSergio was a wildly promising teenager at Cristo Rey Jesuit violence. Two years ago, a 9-year-old boy was shot down in a High School, where I teach. His death by shooting was a dead-end alley two streets away. terrible reminder of the injustice that persists in the city where Till lived most of his 14 years. Till’s famous funeral casket—glass- topped at the insistence of his mother, who wanted the world to see his tortured body—now takes its place as a corner- stone of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24. (He was reburied in a differ- ent casket in 2005 after his body was exhumed as part of a new investigation into his murder.) It is a fitting time to question whether Till’s hometown of Chicago has come to terms with the leg- acy of his life and death. Emmett Till was murdered in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white wom- an in Mississippi, where he was visiting family. The boy’s brutal death helped to

CAROLYN ALESSIO is an English teacher at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. Her writing has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Pushcart Prize and World Literature Today. ART: “THE EMMETT TILL MEMORIAL TRIPTYCH” BY SANDRA HANSEN. ART: PHOTO: LOUIS SCHAKEL/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ SANDRA HANSEN

December 19-26, 2016 America 21 Till’s remaining family members placed the sign by his ing in a friend’s car had some of the hallmarks of gang-relat- grave at a recent memorial service marking the 60th anni- ed violence, his death made few headlines. versary of his death. Family members of recent, high-profile When I ask my high school students if they have heard of African-American victims of killings also attended the ser- Emmett Till, many say they have, and from a wide variety of vice, including the mother of Trayvon Martin and the father sources. They may mention a poster at an elementary school, of Michael Brown. an exhibit at the Chicago History Museum, a TV show or, The Rev. Michael Pfleger, the activist pastor of St. Sabina most often, the music of another prominent Chicagoan, on Chicago’s South Side, helped preside over the memorial Kanye West, who in his breakthrough single “Through the service. “I joined the anniversary because I believe we are not Wire” described himself after a disfiguring accident as a passing on his story like we should,” he explained by email. “modern-day Emmett Till.” “And the violence against Emmett Till is very connected with what is going on today.” A Fitting Remembrance Till’s name is frequently invoked in connection with tragic Although Till’s story resonates in Chicago to this day, the physical reminders of his life and death are Why has the city failed to not easy to find. Chicago lost custody of Till’s casket in 2009 after investigators discovered honor the grave of its most it battered and abandoned in a storage shed at the cemetery. Raccoons and possums had famous martyred son? taken up residence in the casket that had once alerted the world to Jim Crow injustices Racism, greed and a bizarre and racial violence. A former manager at the graveyard scandal provide cemetery is now serving prison time for an elaborate reburial scheme in which she and part of the answer. several other employees resold burial plots and either exhumed the bodies once buried there or stacked several corpses in a single deaths that have given rise to the Black Lives Matter move- plot. Though Till’s remains still lie beneath his oxidized, ment. Joy Bivins, director of curatorial affairs at the Chicago copper-plated marker, more than 200 graves at the histor- History Museum and native South Side Chicagoan, recent- ic African-American cemetery were believed to have been ly told me in an interview: raided. Adding to the sacrilege and heartbreak, the former man- There is still a good deal to learn from Emmett Till’s ager reportedly broke a promise to Till’s mother, Mamie Till story, unfortunately. While the surface has changed Mobley, that Burr Oak would one day erect an “Emmett and lots of laws have been enacted since the time of his Till Historical Museum and Mausoleum” on the site. Till’s murder, we still see that there’s a very vulnerable place mother, a teacher and activist, is also buried there, alongside that young black people have in American society— her second husband, but her elegant crypt is oddly separated nationally and locally, as well. It seems that the actors from her son’s grave by the distance of roughly a city block. have changed, but in many ways, the vulnerability of “Her Pain United a Nation” reads her apt epitaph. the story of that black body has not changed. Recently, when my sophomore students and I were reading a poem from Marilyn Nelson’s book A Wreath for The nature of racial violence has changed significantly Emmett Till, I showed the students photos of Till’s current since Till’s murder. What hasn’t changed is the perception gravesite. “That’s it?” asked more than one surprised sopho- that some lives are fundamentally cheap. If a young man or more. “There’s nothing else there?” woman living in one of Chicago’s affluent neighborhoods I mentioned how the first time I visited Burr Oak, five were to be gunned down in broad daylight, it would like- years ago, the situation was even worse: Crime tape from ly be a front-page story. When a teenage person of color is the investigation into the reburial scheme still covered the murdered on gang-ridden streets, he or she often becomes grounds. Dirt streaked Till’s marker, and it was hard to just another tragic statistic. imagine any improvement in the whole grim scene. Today, That was the case with my murdered student, Sergio, however, the interior roads are paved and the grass carefully who showed remarkable creativity in class and earned im- trimmed by a conscientious staff. A lovely new monument pressive test scores. His friends and family said that he was dedicated to families affected by the reburial scandal stands not a gang member, but because Sergio’s murder while rid- just inside the entrance. I saw it during my most recent visit, EMMETT TIL. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/CONTRIBUTORQ

22 America December 19-26, 2016 when I also noticed the diligent grounds crew busily prepar- ing for a burial. Despite the time pressure, they welcomed me as I approached Till’s grave and answered a few ques- tions. Interacting with the new, vigilant stewards of Burr Oak reminded me that the work of the living can also serve as a memorial. “The power of [Emmett Till’s] story is not necessarily in the tragedy of his murder,” Ms. Bivins told me. “It’s the abili- ty of his mother and the community to turn it into the story of his vulnerability.” It may not be essential to have a large cemetery structure for Till. Perhaps the memorial services and renewed tending of Burr Oak are recognition enough, coupled with Chicago’s spiritual affinity for the teen. But the fundamental way to honor Emmett Till is not through mausoleums or pop ref- erences. It is the struggle to end the racial violence that still afflicts this city and our country—a more distant goal than the search for a fitting physical remembrance. “You can never get enough of Emmett Till’s story,” said the filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, who produced a documenta- ry on Till in 2004 and is currently working with Whoopi Goldberg and Frederick Zollo on “Till,” a film about the no- torious murder. “There’s no other story that speaks to the consciousness of America better than Till’s, and the story must be told, time and time again.” A

December 19-26, 2016 America 23 VATICAN DISPATCH No ‘Reform of the Reform’ or some years now there has was “an exception” and “for that reason transmitting the deposit of faith from been talk of a “reform of the it is referred to as ‘the extraordinary’ one epoch to another, tradition grows Freform” of the liturgy promul- rite, but the ordinary rite of the church and consolidates itself with the passing gated by Paul VI after the Second is not this.” Francis recognized the of time, as St. Vincent of Lerins said in Vatican Council. Such talk became need “to go to meet with magnanimi- his Commonitorium Primum.” And the more vocal following Pope Benedict ty the one who is attached to a certain Liturgy of the Hours, the pope pointed XVI’s decision in July 2007 to re- way of praying,” but he stated clearly out, quotes St. Vincent: “The dogma of store the “extraordinary” rite along- that “the ordinary rite is not this.” the Christian religion too must follow side the “ordinary” one. Moreover, He insisted that the Second Vatican these laws. It progresses, consolidates more recently some prelates, including Council and its “Constitution on the itself with the years, developing itself Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Sacred Liturgy”“must be carried for- with time, deepening itself with age.” Congregation for Divine Worship, ward as they are” and de- It is worth noting have given credence to this possibility clared furthermore that “to that on the day Pope and advocated that priests return to speak of ‘the reform of the Francis spoke with celebrating Mass facing the altar rath- reform’ is an error!” ‘Rigidity is Father Spadaro, he also er than the congregation. Probing further, Father received in private au- Antonio Spadaro, S.J., asked Pope Spadaro asked whether defensive. dience Cardinal Sarah, Francis what he thinks of such propos- “apart from those who are who has emerged as als when he interviewed him on July sincere and ask for this True love the standard bearer of 9, four days after Cardinal Sarah had possibility out of custom is not those who are pushing given a lecture in London calling for or devotion,” the desire for for a “reform of the re- priests to implement this change at the this rite “could also express rigid.’ form.” Two days later, at beginning of Advent and affirming that something else.” the pope’s instruction, a “reform of the reform” is underway. Francis responded: “I the Vatican spokesman, Francis’ answer appears in the pref- ask myself this. For exam- Federico Lombardi, S.J., ace to the 1,000-page book Nei Tuoi ple, I always try to understand what is issued a declaration stating that the Occhi È La Mia Parola (In Your Eyes behind persons who are too young to “ordinary” form of the celebration of Is My Word), a collection of his main have experienced the preconciliar lit- the Mass is the one envisaged by the talks and homilies as archbishop of urgy but who nevertheless want it. At Missal promulgated by Paul VI, while Buenos Aires. times, I find myself in front of persons the “extraordinary” rite approved by He began by affirming that Pope who are very rigid, an attitude of rigid- Benedict XVI is not to take its place. Benedict XVI (in his motu proprio of ity. And I ask myself: How come such Father Lombardi denied that new July 2007 “Summorum Pontificum,” rigidity?” And when one “digs” deeper, liturgical directives would be intro- on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior he said, one discovers that “this rigidity duced in Advent and asked that the to the reform of 1970), “made a right always hides something: insecurity, or expression “reform of the reform” be and magnanimous gesture by going to at times something else…. Rigidity is avoided in referring to the liturgy. He meet some groups and persons with defensive. True love is not rigid.” revealed that Cardinal Sarah “expressly a certain mentality that had nostalgia Turning to the question of tradition, agreed to all this” in his meeting with [for the old liturgy] and were distanc- Father Spadaro noted that “some un- the pope. ing themselves.” derstand this also in a rigid way.” Francis In a word, Francis wants the Second He emphasized, however, that this responded, “But no: tradition blos- Vatican Council’s directives on the lit- soms!” Nevertheless, he said, “there’s urgy to be more fully implemented, not GERARD O’CONNELL is America’s Vatican a traditionalism that is a rigid funda- rolled back. It seems clear that he feels correspondent. America’s Vatican coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit communities of mentalism; this is not good. Fidelity this has not yet happened. the United States. Twitter: @gerryorome. on the other hand implies growth. In GERARD O’CONNELL

24 America December 19-26, 2016 FAITH IN FOCUS The End of Despair How prayer saved me from myself BY JOE WATSON JR. was driving home from church af- guide, I was in over my head, not pre- me were my salvation. Without the ter my fourth Mass of the day, and pared for marriage or the spiritual re- weeks I spent easing back into prayer, Ithe dark night hung like a night- sponsibilities it entailed. I would not be alive today. mare, closing in and pressing down. But I came back. I came back to My thoughts, churning like rapids, the church a week before my wife left On the Edge ventured deeper and deeper It was a Sunday in November into the pit of despair. and the case of a young woman My marriage had just end- who had chosen to take her life ed. For several weeks I put up a by physician-assisted suicide strong front, not betraying the had been all over the news for growing depression that was the past week. I attempted to overcoming me. Eventually, it conquer the questions gathering hit with the ferocity of a tsu- like storm clouds in my mind. nami, making me spin and spin Could I too choose to make until finally I saw no way out, the pain stop by staying busy? nowhere to go except the end. I volunteered to help out with as many of the Mass duties and Backing Up as many Masses as I could— When I got married, I doubt pushing the inevitable away and anyone imagined I would give lying to myself that everything up on the Catholic Church. was O.K. After all, before I met the one, Eventually, the action was the girl I knew I would marry, I over and everyone had to go had been discerning a vocation home. There is always a point with the Jesuits for nearly five when the doing ends, and then years. we are faced with the deafen- But I left. I left for some ing and horrendous silence some not-so-good reasons but that is our thoughts. The light primarily because I had no spir- was extinguished; the darkness itual life to speak of. I found it had conquered. Every thought much more difficult to have a that raced through my mind healthy prayer life while mar- was worse than the last. The ried, especially after our kids were me. I shudder to think of how things drive home quickly became a torture. born. Occasionally, I said a rosary or might be different now if I had not. I The only solace came when I devised recited some other prayers, but the was even luckier to have found a won- the method that would be the most distractions were too great. Without derful priest who, though busy, took efficient but the least painful. I had the help of a good, consistent spiritual time to guide me back to a life clos- heard about this point on the road: the er to God. During this time, he gave flood, if you will, that sends one over me a piece of advice I would need the top. The relatively long drive from JOE WATSON JR., a native Texan and Army to get through my darkest hours: the church to my apartment became a veteran, is a lay Dominican and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has studied bio- “You do too much; you need to pray curse. chemistry and mathematics. more.” This priest and what he taught But somewhere along the road, SEAN QUIRK ART:

December 19-26, 2016 America 25 God broke through the thick, viscous Walking With God thought of me. I began my journey the shroud that hung as a barrier to my It has been a year and a half now since way one normally undertakes a new inner being. Finally, that shield was that fateful day, and I wish I could say challenge: by finding teachers. penetrated ever so slightly, just enough that I am cured, but that is not true. From the Benedictines I learned for a small piece of self-realization and In reality, this kind of thing almost inner contemplation, to slow down, to reason to break through. Suddenly, the never fully goes away. One must admit meditate. At their monastery in Clear impending danger to my life was hang- that. One must understand that, or it Creek, Okla., I was immersed in the ing on the air as clear as a wild animal will eat you alive. The question now beauty of the Liturgy of the Hours, standing nearby; only I was the wild is not, “Am I cured?” but rather “How which the monks prayed in the most animal. do I live?” Every day is a struggle that arresting Gregorian chant. I drove straight past my apartment I must meet head on—but not alone; With the guidance of Jesuits I was complex and checked myself into the that is where I went wrong and some- able to return to my Ignatian roots. hospital about half a mile down the times still do. The struggle is too much They have a house just down the road road. That decision saved my life. for us as individuals. While having the from me, and the superior allowed me When I refused to go to the V.A. support of another person is always a to go on retreats there, even though I hospital, the doctor sent for a govern- bonus, it is just that, a bonus. The key could not pay all the costs. Through the ment representative, a psychiatrist, to is having a relationship with the stron- assistance of these wonderful Jesuits evaluate me. The representative put gest, wisest and most loving being in and Ignatian spirituality, I learned me very much at ease, and instead of our existence: God. to find the shadows, the damage, the chastising me for “wasting resources,” I know: It sounds like a cliché. But problems in my soul before they are as I expected, he simply said: “You’re we often rely on our personal relation- able to build into a new crescendo. very strong! To have realized the dan- ships with family and friends, especial- Finally, I have gained much from ger you were in and then come here ly when life hits hard. Why, then, is it my lay brothers and sisters. I joined a for help—that’s not common.” I thank so embarrassing to do the same with lay chapter of the Order of Preachers God for that moment of uncommon the Lord? I needed to leave my ego be- soon after leaving the hospital and with strength in the midst of despair. hind and stop worrying what others them learned the joys of Dominican balance. I learned that what I need is not too much prayer, not too much work, not too much community or alone time but to balance all of them together. In a recent Sunday homily, the priest, the one who brought me back to prayer when I needed it most, made a wonderful comment about achieving such balance: “When the Benedictines open their ‘schedule,’ they put down when they pray and meditate, then they fit in the work that needs to be done. When we open our schedules, we shove work in until there is bare- ly any room left, and then we try to squeeze prayer in.” Not that long ago, I was not even trying to squeeze prayer in. Today, my prayers are constant and consistent. I am not free of my depression. Each day I wake and must force myself to think good thoughts and force the bad ones away, and it does not always work. But I am at peace. And that, I pray, is where I will remain. A

26 America December 19-26, 2016 December 19-26, 2016 America 27 PHILOSOPHER’S NOTEBOOK Teachers Who Teach et us now praise famous and family showed up at the festivals, we classroom itself was silent. Some of not-so-famous teachers. often brought our sister Nancy, who us were angry with Dr. Laws for re- L During my annual retreat had Down syndrome. Sister Thaddeus fusing to cancel the exam. Others of I was praying a meditation on grat- would always go out of her way to us, exhausted from an all-nighter, itude. I suddenly thought of Sister give a small gift to Nancy. We quick- were simply trying to remember who Thaddeus, the nun who had taught me ly acquired “the Sister Thaddeus col- Swinburne was. In the middle of the in fourth grade at our parochial school lection”: a St. Bernadette medal, holy exam, a class member burst into the in suburban Philadelphia in the early cards of Our Lady, a plastic rosary room. With a quaking voice, she de- 1960s. bracelet. nounced Dr. Laws and the rest of us Three images returned. My friend After decades of teaching, it dawned for not caring about who was killed Vince had the worst handwriting in on me that Sister Thaddeus had long in Southeast Asia. Dr. Laws rose and the class. Rather than upbraiding him, ago made her own preferential option quietly told her that he would meet as other teachers had done, Sister for the poor. Whereas many with her in the corri- Thaddeus would cheerfully tutor him teachers play for the stars, dor. He turned to us during recess. “It’s getting better, you Sister Thaddeus cared for Against and said, “Remember, know. Keep up the good fight.” This the vulnerable. Her peda- political class, you are on your was no minor issue. In the preconciliar gogical compass was com- honor.” Catholic grammar school, penman- passion. The Gospel made pressure, I have often thought ship enjoyed quasi-sacramental status. her tick. he had of that morning with The poorest pupil in class was Several months ago I Dr. Laws. Courage can Charlotte. The school’s class struc- read in the University of reminded erupt in the most unex- ture was simple: the split-levelers, Pennsylvania alumni mag- us of our pected corners. Against the row-housers and the people from azine that Dr. Malcolm hysterical political pres- “the project,” where Charlotte lived. Laws, a professor emeritus duties. sure, he had reminded She also stuttered badly. In Sister of English, had died. I had us of our duties as teach- Thaddeus’s class, one of the girls would taken a course from him on Victorian er and student in the study of humane call out a pupil’s name from a stack of literature in the spring of 1970. He letters. Against the faculty consensus, cards as we plowed through the daily was an old-fashioned teacher, more he firmly stood alone. Ultimately, his oral drills. After several weeks, how- prone to savor than dissect a text. I course was about something more ever, I noticed that Charlotte was soon discovered there was more than than Tennyson and Browning. the one pupil whose name was never Old World charm at work. Teaching formation and evaluation called. Only years later did I surmise In May of 1970 the United States these days often focuses on technical that Sister Thaddeus had pulled her military forces invaded Cambodia. skills. How well does the teacher use card to avoid any humiliation. Campuses nationwide exploded. PowerPoint, prepare for class, design Our parish was an endless round Student antiwar activists demanded a exams? Questions on a teacher’s mor- of social celebrations: the May pro- moratorium on the imminent exam- al character are oddly cramped. Is the cession, the carnival, the St. Patrick’s ination week. Most faculty canceled teacher respectful, tolerant, open to dance, the St. Joseph table, bingo, the exams or offered an alternative, diversity? the concert by the Mummers string such as a brief paper. But no cancella- Compassion and courage count for band. Sister Thaddeus would circu- tion notice from Dr. Laws appeared. little. But we know those virtues when late among the families with a warm His exam was on. we see them. Even in the age of email greeting for each person. When our I still remember the eerie silence with attached files, education is still as we trudged into Bennet Hall, with about one soul shaping the struggling its marble staircases and frosted glass souls of others. JOHN J. CONLEY, S.J., holds the Knott Chair in Philosophy and Theology at Loyola in the doors. We were the only peo- Sister Thaddeus and Dr. Laws got University Maryland in Baltimore, Md. ple in the building that morning. The it. JOHN J. CONLEY

28 America December 19-26, 2016 Books & Culture

and a Peabody, and it has been broad- TELEVISION | JIM Mc DERMOTT cast every Christmas season since. Still, much about the success of “A TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY Charlie Brown Christmas” did defy common sense and continues to do How ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ defies common sense so today. Consider its pacing, for in- stance. “Charlie Brown” was one of hen “A Charlie Brown the show, the animation director, Bill the first animated holiday cartoons, Christmas” debuted on Melendez, felt much the same. “By appearing just one year after “Rudolph WDec. 9, 1965, CBS exec- golly, we’ve killed it,” he recalls telling the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” And yet, utives were so sure it would fail they Mendelson after a screening. unlike “Rudolph,” in “Charlie Brown” informed its executive producer, Lee The American public disagreed. very little happens. The special opens Mendelson, they were showing it only In fact, 45 percent of Americans with with a long, almost meditative take of because they had already announced it a television set watched “A Charlie children skating loops on the pond, the in TV Guide. “Maybe it’s better suited Brown Christmas” that night, mak- wistful original song “Christmastime to the comic page,” they told him after ing it the second highest rated show Is Here” playing in the background. an advance showing. of the week (behind “Bonanza”). The Many of the scenes that follow have a Despite six months working on program would go on to win an Emmy similar fragmented, ephemeral qual-

A scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” ABC TELEVISION NETWORK. (© 1965 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE INC. SYNDICATE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK. (© 1965 UNITED FEATURE

December 19-26, 2016 America 29 ity. Kids talk about Christmas cards, and Schulz discovering that their new on yourself, just send money.” When their lists for Santa; they throw snow- Christmas special was about a kid try- Charlie Brown challenges this, she balls; they dance; they talk some more. ing to figure out why Christmas made explains, with her absolute innocence, There is an almost documentary-like him depressed. Who is going to want a “All I want is what’s coming to me. All verisimilitude to the project. Charles soda pop after that? I want is my fair share.” Schulz, the creator of “Peanuts,” and Not only does Charlie Brown keep “We all know Christmas is a big Melendez capture perfectly that peace- talking about how sad he is, he spends commercial racket,” Lucy finally ad- able aimlessness, that numinous time- most of his Christmas special spot- mits. “It’s run by an Eastern syndicate, lessness that many American children lighting and attacking the ways com- you know,” a comment that could hard- experience during the holidays, their mercialism has crept into the holiday. ly have been lost on CBS’s East Coast lives hushed like the landscape under Things like Snoopy entering his dog- executives. a thick blanket of snow. house in a Christmas decorating con- For its creators, though, the most Into that wintry reserve trudges test to win a cash prize; Lucy complain- problematic element of “A Charlie Charlie Brown, Schulz’s bald, moon- ing that all she ever gets at Christmas Brown Christmas” was Schulz’s de- faced loser. “I think there must be are “stupid toys or clothes or a bicycle,” cision to build the climax of Charlie something wrong with me, Linus,” he when what she really wants is “real Brown’s search for the true meaning of says at the start. “Christmas is coming, estate” (you have to love Lucy); or lit- Christmas around Linus’s proclama- but I’m not happy.” Imagine the Coca- tle Sally writing to Santa that if gifts tion of the Gospel of Luke’s Nativity Cola executives who hired Mendelson are too much trouble, “make it easy story. Much like today, to discuss reli-

Adoration of the Christ Child Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen, c. 1515

Sometimes it’s not the infant’s holy face that awes us, but the teeming blitz of cherubs wielding horns and lutes to fill the Arab stable with their overweening praise. If neither Mary nor the shepherds glance their way, remember that, while putti bow the beams and swell their cheeks in this tableau, such hosts are rarely seen and sing in silence. Still, we need directions to which manger holds the Christ. We want melodic wings to tell us God has come. We usher them inside and close our eyes to hear. The danger then is that we crown the worship king: hymn blunts our prayer until we look at Him.

GEORGE DAVID CLARK

George David Clark is the author of Reveille and winner of the Miller Williams Prize. His most recent poems appear in AGNI, The Gettysburg Review, Image, The New Criterion and elsewhere. He edits the journal 32 Poems and lives in Washington, Pa., with his wife and their three young children. “THE ADORATION OF THE CHRIST CHILD,” , BY JACOB CORNELISZ VAN OOSTSANEN OF THE CHRIST CHILD,” , BY JACOB CORNELISZ VAN “THE ADORATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND WORKSHOP C. 1515. PHOTO: DADEROT/ART

30 America December 19-26, 2016 gion publicly was considered fraught refused to let go of—and wraps it than either of these options is Schulz’s with hazard. When Melendez first around the tree’s base. The others re- vision of a group of sweet (but also heard about it, he thought “it was a move ornaments from Snoopy’s now self-centered), adorable (but also kind very dangerous place to go into.” There award-winning decorations, and to- of mean) individuals allowing their were no religious cartoons at the time; gether they transform that ugly branch own self-interest and sensibilities to animation was “an entertainment,” not into something that is still simple, but fall away before a humble, fragile life. a church service. somehow beautiful. They gaze at it si- To see with clarity that no matter who Melendez told Schulz, “We can’t do lently for a moment, then softly break or what stands before them, they aren’t this; it’s too religious.” into song. so bad, really. They just need a little But it had been the religious di- Today the chances of selling a love. mension of Christmas that had drawn Christian-themed, anti-commercial- Schulz to the project in the first place. ism Christmas special would seem JIM McDERMOTT, S.J., a screenwriter, is “If we can talk about what I feel is the just as slim as they were in the 1960s. America’s Los Angeles correspondent. Twitter: true meaning of Christmas, based on But more challenging in the present @PopCulturPriest. my Midwest background,” Mendelson remembers Schulz explaining to him, BOOKS | EDWARD Mc GLYNN GAFFNEY “it would really be worth doing.” He told Melendez, “Bill, if we don’t ENGAGING POLITICS do it, who else can?” That scene with Linus, in which A CULTURE OF what little action there is completely ENGAGEMENT stops—Linus literally steps centerstage Law, Religion and Morality and calls for a spotlight—is certainly memorable. But for me, the real pow- By Cathleen Kaveny Georgetown University Press. 320p er of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” lies $32.95 not there but at the story’s end. Charlie Brown, having been liberated from his PROPHECY WITHOUT sadness by Linus’s “tidings of great joy,” CONTEMPT tries to decorate his pathetic, molting Religious Discourse in the Public little tree, truly the Charlie Brown of Square Christmas trees. The placement of a By Cathleen Kaveny single red ornament causes it to buckle, Harvard University Press. 464p $49.95 leading Charlie Brown to believe that he has failed once again. “Everything I Cathleen Kaveny is one of this coun- touch gets ruined,” he says, abandoning try’s most renowned public intellectu- the tree and the TV screen. als focusing on the intersection of reli- Then the other children show up. gion, law and morality. Kaveny’s work They have spent the entire half-hour ei- as an ethicist is interdisciplinary. She ther ignoring or making fun of Charlie connects the dots between history and Brown, calling him “a blockhead,” tell- political theory, law and jurisprudence, health care, contraception, abortion, ing one another, “He’s not the kind you philosophy and theology. She is a pro- the death penalty, assisted suicide, war, can count on to do anything right” in lific scholar with a keen aptitude for torture, economic boycotts, migration, a pitch-perfect imitation of gossiping knowing what to focus on and when constitutional interpretation (especial- adults. But when they see that wilted to speak. She also understands the ly religious freedom) and much more. little tree that he cared about sitting duty of writing for a wider public than The other is a thick, carefully articulat- there near-dead and alone, their hearts those fortunate enough to have her as ed study of contempt in U.S. political are moved. “I never thought it was such a colleague or a teacher. Kaveny has discourse. a bad little tree,” says Linus. “It’s not also served for years as a columnist for Both are timely challenges to the es- bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a Commonweal. calating rancor of this year’s presiden- little love.” The genres of these books are dif- tial election, which bottomed out in a He takes his security blanket— ferent. One is a collection of short nadir of narcissistic nastiness. After which he has until now repeatedly essays on a broad range of hot issues: what we have been through recent-

December 19-26, 2016 America 31 ly, Kaveny offers much more wisdom are meant to protect the due process are doctors, lawyers, military leaders, than we have received from what pass- value of impartiality for all members Supreme Court justices, and heads es for political discourse these days. of society. Citing her mentor John of state.” The crisis of sexual abuse by Except for a chapter on the com- Noonan—a renowned Republican cir- members of the clergy “eroded the loy- plexity of Catholicism, A Culture of cuit court judge appointed by President alty of lay Catholics...and undermined Engagement is Kaveny’s selection Reagan—she argues that when rules the church’s moral authority” not only of columns or blogs that appeared become masks concealing human faces because of grave misconduct by priests, in Commonweal between 2004 and and needs, the application of rules can but also because of episcopal cover-up 2014, which she has occasionally then be “merciless and inhuman.” and protection of perpetrators. updated but only lightly. She added In a chapter on the indefinite deten- A bishop’s excommunication of the sources cited in each chapter, as well as tion of terrorism suspects without tri- president of a Catholic hospital for useful suggestions for further reading authorizing “a procedure necessary to on all topics she discusses. save the life of a pregnant woman with Kaveny describes three distinct severe pulmonary hypertension” is bad cultures surrounding the relationship canonically, ethically and legally. John between religion and morality, includ- Paul II repudiated the bishop’s mistake ing law, openness, identity and engage- in his 1992 encyclical “The Splendor of ment. She associates openness with Truth.” If the bishop had his way, “the the Second Vatican Council, stated woman would have been left to die classically in the opening paragraph along with the baby—and the hospital of the “Pastoral Constitution on the would have, and should have lost its li- Church in the Modern World,” linking cense.” Bishops, as well as judges, need followers of Christ with the joys and empathy, or they will commit merciless hopes, griefs and anxieties of modern and inhuman errors. men and women. She associates iden- In Prophecy Without Contempt, tity with the long pontificate of St. Kaveny seeks “to draw insights from John Paul II. history in order to better under- The short essays in this book forge stand and critique the current, almost an impressive argument for a third hopelessly polarized state of political culture: engagement, or bringing into discourse in the United States.” She proximity different traditions—reli- begins the conversation by exploring gious and secular—viewed not as sep- the distinctive contributions of four arate one-way streets leading in oppo- major contemporary voices: Alasdair site directions but as going in both di- al, Kaveny urges President Obama—a MacIntyre, John Rawls, John Murray rections simultaneously. Kaveny imag- Nobel peace laureate—not to be sat- Cuddihy and Stephen Carter. ines an interaction that may generate isfied with Reinhold Niebuhr’s soft She reports the value of the contri- an interrelation. Recognizing that U.S. critique of U.S. self-righteousness but bution of these thinkers and encourag- Catholics “cannot stand completely to be aware that Paul Ramsey demon- es religious believers to achieve agree- outside” either our national or reli- strated that “Niebuhr’s framework ment not by appeal to raw emotion gious identities, Kaveny seeks to create provided American exceptionalism but by inviting rational deliberation “some critical distance in order to eval- with its best defense yet.” This counsel about their claims. Kaveny also points uate the strengths and weaknesses of applies as well to the extensive use of out the deficiencies in the writings of both identities.” drones to carry out extrajudicial as- Rawls and Cuddihy, arguing that re- Kaveny recurrently offers ways of sassination of suspected terrorists in ligious discourse is a legitimate mode seeing complexity where others are countries with whom we are not at of deliberation about matters of public reductionist. For example, President war and in second strikes to kill first concern and that civility does not re- Obama stated in 2009 that empathy responders to a murder scene or guests quire a secularist privatization of reli- is a desirable quality in a judge. Sen. at a wedding. gion. Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, Kaveny also criticizes church lead- Kaveny is a skillful teacher. Where immediately mischaracterized this ers. The culture of identity “does not something is well known, she moves view as a code word for judicial activ- easily accommodate leadership roles swiftly from the familiar to a fresh ism. Kaveny acknowledges that rules for women” in an era in which “women insight about it. Where her readers

32 America December 19-26, 2016 might be less aware of something, she 19th century, or the Vietnam War or preceding reasonable judgment and lingers longer in the setting or context abortion and sexual issues in the 20th decisive engagement in political action. of her texts. For example, she takes the century, or torture and the indefinite The brutal and bruising campaign time to reacquaint us with two biblical war in which we are now enmeshed in of 2016 is finally behind us, but prophets—Jeremiah and Jonah—who the 21st century. Kaveny mainly con- Kaveny’s call for a politics infused with become paradigms for the political dis- trasts the styles of prophets and delib- vigilance, not vitriol, has by no means course she encourages. Kaveny’s dis- erators, but she pays grateful homage outlived its usefulness. Now we must cussion of these prophets, moreover, to her friend John Noonan—whom come to terms with the election of a is enhanced with an impressive aware- she served as a judicial clerk—by ded- president who has never previously ness of postbiblical—midrashic and icating this book to him “as a model of served in public office nor indicated talmudic—interpretation. both prophetic witness and practical any awareness of the duty of all poli- Kaveny omits consideration of the deliberation.” ticians to seek the common good of prophetic actions of Jeremiah, focusing This happy conjunction raises a all in our republic. Kaveny’s work is principally on his sermons announc- question about why Kaveny identifies all the more relevant as we ponder our ing the imminent doom of Jerusalem. others in her study, like Daniel and responses to Dr. Martin Luther King She underscores the prophet’s lament Philip Berrigan, only as prophets and Jr.’s last and most urgent question, of the fall of the town he loves so well not also as deliberators. Does not the “Where do we go from here, chaos or as the key to understanding his task irony of the prophet Jonah extend to community?” Kaveny does not offer a of changing minds and hearts of as using napalm to burn draft cards rath- thin guide to complex issues too often many Jerusalemites as will listen to his er than babies? reduced to superficial slogans. She is a sermons. Jeremiah thus emerges as a Before Nov. 8, the large question Sherpa who can take us to the top of model for us to refrain from contempt before U.S. voters was to select those the mountain. If we grasp not only the for one’s partners in political dialogue. who represent us in legislatures and difference between prophetic witness Kaveny reads the Book of Jonah as executive offices at the local, state and and practical deliberation, but also a post-exilic example of biblical irony. federal levels, and some state judges. their necessary interaction, we may Jonah is a comic character who leaves As in all such elections, it was import- all see things more clearly. And that Jerusalem to go down to the sea and ant to focus on the prior experience, would be good for our country and for then down further into the belly of character and commitments of various our fragile world. a big fish to flee the unpleasant task candidates for public office. Numerous of preaching salvation to the classic issues of justice and mercy still deserve EDWARD McGLYNN GAFFNEY is senior re- national foes of Judah. But the fish our careful attention, diligent efforts search professor at Valparaiso University School swims north to spit out the prophet to understand, reflective deliberation of Law in Indiana. on a beach near Nineveh. There is no escaping God’s call to announce his TOM GIBB mercy for all. Jonah thus illustrates the value of relying on irony rather than condemnation to urge one’s views on A SECRET WAR IN THE AMERICAS matters of public import. Kaveny also offers a close reading THE SALVADOR OPTION dusted off manuals from the “last war” of 17th-century Puritan sermons— The United States in El Salvador, to find solutions. called jeremiads after the prophet— 1977-1992 El Salvador was the largest U.S. concluding with the critical insight By Russell Crandall counterinsurgency effort before the that this sort of preaching “did not Cambridge University Press. 680p current conflicts and after Vietnam. characteristically attack the persons $39.99 For 12 years, Washington funded, of the audience; it challenged their ac- trained and advised the Salvadoran tions.” In a stroke, Kaveny reframes the The Salvador Option: The United States military in a brutal war against Cuban- debate about U.S. political discourse. in El Salvador, 1977-1992 takes its backed guerrillas. More than 1 percent She illustrates recurrent tensions name from a debate 10 years ago about of the population was murdered, most between prophetic denouncers and how to stop the Sunni insurgency by government death squads and army reflective deliberators on hot but com- from gaining the upper hand in Iraq. units. As the Soviet Union collapsed, plicated issues as diverse and conten- American generals, politicians and the long-stalemated conflict ended tious as slavery and its abolition in the pundits, following well-trod tradition, with a U.N.-mediated peace settle-

December 19-26, 2016 America 33 ment, under which the rebels disarmed which to measure their validity, leading extremist army officers and moonlight- in return for far-reaching democratic to some deeply flawed conclusions. ing soldiers. One U.S. official, quot- reforms. U.S. policy is por- ed without challenge, Opinions about that war remain trayed as a “surprisingly estimates that there polarized. For some, the “Salvador moderate” democra- were only about 25 Option” represented successful de- cy-building effort car- death squad members. mocracy building that undermined ried out by “imperial am- The United States, the rebels, preventing the establish- bassadors” and military Crandall wrongly con- ment of a Soviet satellite state in the advisors, focusing on cludes, was not directly U.S. backyard. For others, El Salvador elections, human rights involved in this slaugh- was a shameful episode, in which and the professionaliz- ter. Instead, he says the Washington backed the perpetrators of ing of the Salvadoran death squads, along a death squad bloodbath in a failed at- military. Crandall judg- with rural massacres tempt to militarily defeat a homegrown es that the Salvador of thousands of civil- leftist insurgency. Option succeeded in ians, did more damage Russell Crandall promises a “third containing Communist to the Salvador Option way” in this debate, “a thorough and expansionism, although than the rebels ever fair-minded interpretation of available at high human cost. But managed. evidence.” But he relies too heavily on he argues that the bloodbath could have Crandall’s vision of benign U.S. goals declassified U.S. documents badly been worse without U.S. involvement. is at sharp odds with accounts from for- compromised by wartime propaganda The over 40,000 killings and disap- mer rebels, police and Salvadoran gov- to succeed in this ambitious task. He pearances of government opponents are ernment officials, few of whom were quotes diverse opinions; but without a misleadingly blamed on shadowy death interviewed for The Salvador Option. strong investigative narrative of events squads funded by oligarchs, which At the war’s end, the country’s former on the ground, he has no yardstick with C.I.A. cables call a “fanatic fringe” of president and close U.S. ally, Álvaro Magana, told me the one failing of the U.N. Truth Commission Report was that it left out U.S. involvement in the dirty war.

A Dirty War The vast majority of death squad mur- ders between 1980 and 1984 were actually carried out by Salvadoran se- curity force intelligence units, follow- ing orders from senior colonels, who had full U.S. backing. The top officer most often named was Col. Nicolas Carranza, a deputy defense minister who was on the C.I.A. payroll and was later given U.S. citizenship. It was a well-orchestrated dirty war against a committed Cuban- and Vietnamese-trained insurgency. Using infiltrators and extensive surveil- lance, police often rounded up doz- ens of suspects at once, torturing and killing many. It was not the work of moonlighting soldiers. The National Police was most active, rehiring the prewar military regime’s best agents. They called their intelligence unit

34 America December 19-26, 2016 the National Center for Analysis and to be the work of a guillotine, possibly a violent insurgency. In El Salvador, it Investigation, or CAIN, boasting that taken from a meat plant. produced spectacular short-term re- they were capable of killing their own The C.I.A. policy to hire U.S. advi- sults, but it backfired as badly in the brothers. From late 1980 onward, ac- sors for Salvadoran police intelligence long term, creating a recruitment pool cording to Salvadoran officers and offi- units, like the Iran-contra policy, was that turned the Salvadoran guerrillas cials, CAIN had advisors hired by the kept secret because it was illegal. Police into Latin America’s most successful in- C.I.A. aid was banned before 1985 by U.S. surgency. The hatred and mistrust the “They would sit in one room writ- law. The best description of the ratio- policy engendered undermined democ- ing out questions, leaving it up to nale was given later by Pentagon offi- racy-building long after Washington Salvadorans to get the answers,” said cials in briefings for a Newsweek article reined in the death squads in 1983. Gerardo LeChevallier, the governing in 2005. There was a “still secret” C.I.A. Crandall reaches other faulty Christian Democrat Party’s liaison strategy in El Salvador, they said blunt- conclusions. He wrongly argues with the army at the time. He said he ly, to “fund or support nationalist forces Washington was always ready to nego- met several of these advisors, who were that allegedly included so-called death tiate the war’s end. Rebel attitudes were not part of the official U.S. military squads, directed to hunt down and kill far more diverse than portrayed, rang- mission. Many of the C.I.A.’s hired ad- rebel leaders and sympathizers.” This ing from frustrated social democrats, visors were U.S. citizens. They were ex- policy, which the officials also dubbed who favored more internal democra- perts in urban police intelligence or vet- the Salvador Option, aimed to make cy, to admirers of Stalin who carried erans of other anti-Communist cam- the population “pay a price” for staying out violent purges, killing hundreds paigns who trained CAIN agents on neutral, to “out terrorize the terrorists,” of rank-and-file rebels. Finally,The conducting searches, surveillance and as Newsweek put it. Salvador Option gives little explanation interrogation. But they also planned Hardline Reagan administration as to how in 1989 the rebels were able and took part in operations. officials prioritized alliances with to launch their largest offensive despite “No one from intelligence ever did like-minded Salvadorans, completely a decade of U.S. involvement. anything unless there was a North undermining the authority of Crandall’s Crandall’s work shows the desperate American or Venezuelan with them,” “imperial ambassadors.” Significantly, need for a better narrative of what actu- said one former police captain. Salvadorans believed their tactics were ally happened in El Salvador’s civil war, The story of CAIN shows beyond supported by President Reagan, allow- without which any meaningful assess- all doubt that the police intelligence ing them to ignore human rights ser- ment of U.S. policy is impossible. units and death squads were one and mons from other U.S. officials. the same and that the C.I.A. was heavi- The central fault line of the war THOMAS GIBB spent eight years covering the ly involved. I investigated in great detail hinges on a question, still relevant, war and peace process in El Salvador for BBC, NPR, The Washington Post and other outlets. an operation described by senior police about whether extreme violence is ef- He is now a filmmaker and is finishing a book officers as “the most successful of the fective or counterproductive against focusing on El Salvador’s death squad war. war.” Built around a top guerrilla com- mander who turned traitor, it repeat- edly hit the rebel leadership structures CLAIRE SCHAEFFER-DUFFY over four years. Rebel survivors gave horrific testimony of being forced to OUR NUCLEAR COMPLEX watch other detainees being guillotined and put through a meat processing ma- ALMIGHTY painter and a Vietnam veteran, crest- chine in the police headquarters in the Courage, Resistance, ed a low pine ridge and walked onto western city of Santa Ana. Some heard And Existential Peril the Y-12 National Security Complex, U.S. and Asian voices among their in- In the Nuclear Age supposedly one of the most secure terrogators. By Dan Zak sites in the world. Using bolt cutters In 1981, the U.S. ambassador to El Blue Rider Press. 416p $27 purchased at Target for $25, they Salvador, Deane Hinton, wrote horri- snipped through three fences, hung fied cables after 100 decapitated corps- It has been four years since three activ- peace banners and spray-painted the es were dumped outside Santa Ana. ists entered a nuclear weapons plant in walls of the Highly Enriched Uranium Hinton, who was genuinely trying to Oak Ridge, Tenn. Under the cover of Material Facility, a massive, castle-like improve human rights, ordered autop- early morning darkness, an octogenar- structure that housed enough uranium sies. These showed the decapitations ian Catholic nun, along with a house to power thousands of nuclear bombs.

December 19-26, 2016 America 35 Architects had designed its walls to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein comes know about the Japanese vaporized at withstand a crashing jet but probably to mind. Except here, the monster is Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the can- never considered an assault of biblical not craving connection. It does not get cerous fate of the cities’ survivors. But graffiti. killed. It shapeshifts, appearing as the what of the hundreds of thousands “Woe to an empire of blood,” wrote preserver of global security when its of U.S. atomic veterans—pilots flying one activist. function is planetary annihilation. unaware through mushroom clouds, “The fruit of justice is peace,” wrote Zak tells this history of apocalyp- ground soldiers standing in the radiat- another. tic possibilities through the lens of ed glow of desert tests? The three then prayed and waited personal stories. “They lost hair and to be arrested. His central char- teeth in the short run,” Upon learning the news, Dan Zak, acters are four or- Zak writes. “In the long a journalist at The Washington Post, dinary Americans: run: thyroid problems, paid close attention as U.S. lawmak- the three activists multiple myeloma, slow ers railed, first reporting on the breach Sister Megan Rice, and agonizing deaths in at Oak Ridge in a beautifully crafted Michael Walli and their 50’s and 60’s.” High piece for the newspaper’s style maga- Greg Boertje-Obed, suicide rates plagued Oak zine. That article evolved intoAlmighty , and the Y-12 se- Ridge and the Marshall one of the most captivating and pene- curity guard, Kirk Islands, where the United trating books about the United States’ Garland, who first States conducted 66 nu- love-hate relationship with the bomb I discovered the peace clear tests. Cancer invaded have ever read. protestors outside the bodies of Americans Zak is a terrific writer. His chroni- the Oak Ridge nu- who lived downwind from cle of our nuclear complex—from the clear facility and was nuclear weapons plants. bomb’s creation to the present-day later fired for treat- Brain damage and prema- modernization of our nuclear arse- ing them humanely instead of drawing ture death felled their workers. nal—unfurls like a film, with drama, his gun. Among the supporting cast Catholics on both sides of the nu- suspense and an eye for horrifying are scientists who conceive the bomb, clear divide are featured prominently absurdities. Describing the nuclear presidents publicly urging nuclear dis- here. Richard McSorley, S.J., a pacifist bombing of Hiroshima, he notes the armament, yet sanctioning the expan- of vigorous intellect, declares nuclear Japanese city “was erased by an amount sion of our arsenals, bomb-makers, weapons to be “the taproot of all vio- of uranium that weighed no more than true believers, dissenters and victims. lence.” Leroy Matthiesen, a pastoral a human fetus at 28 weeks.” Dear God, the victims! Many of us Catholic bishop in Texas, urges his parishioners working at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant to quit their jobs. No such sermons are heard at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge, where the faithful receive holy Communion on Sunday and make weapons on Monday. This is not a history we Americans like to ponder. To do so requires reck- oning with the devil among us. As Zak so clearly reveals, the bomb we believe saved our boys and ended a world war also brought dark regret and ominous faith. “It is an awful responsibility which has come to us,” President Harry Truman said after the nuclear leveling of Nagasaki. “We thank God that it has come to us instead of our enemies, and we pray that He may guide us to use it

36 America December 19-26, 2016 in His ways and for His purposes.” sider the consequences of this invest- ers symbolically suggested when they Over the decades, that faith ment? Zak is, and he does so in a way penetrated the inner sanctum of Oak spawned a vast nuclear network “in- that cuts through the psychic numbing Ridge with their household tools and sulated from logic and reason,” Zak and gives hope. abundant conviction. notes, and the United States became Almighty reminds us the United The devil among us is not the weap- entrenched in a deadly paradox: We States, birthplace of the bomb, is ons but our faith in them. Having would keep the peace by threatening also a land of prophets and visionar- made them, we can unmake them, if global destruction. ies, a country of unexpected converts we but, to quote Sister Megan, “change This book is essential reading for (Henry Kissinger is now anti-nuke!), the mission.” any American. The U.S. budget for and committed believers in the value nuclear weapons is now higher than at of life. In emphasizing the human di- CLAIRE SCHAEFFER-DUFFY, a writer, lives any point in history, despite a shrunk- mension of our nuclear complex, the with her husband at the Saint Francis and en arsenal. Yet who is asking us to con- book reiterates what the peace protest- Therese Catholic Worker in Worcester, Mass.

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December 19-26, 2016 America 37 THE WORD The Right Word THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD, MASS DURING THE NIGHT, DEC. 25, 2016 Readings: Is 9:1-6, Ps 96, Ti 2:11-14, Lk 2:1-14 Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy! (Lk 2:10)

he right word at the right mo- and simple folk. This was not the case strangers into Jesus’ first evangelists. ment can transform a person, in the ancient world. In Luke’s time, A close echo of the angels’ song ap- Tfor good or for ill. Hollywood shepherds were dangerous outsiders pears near the end of Jesus’ life, when knows the dramatic value of these mo- who lived rough lives in the wilder- he enters Jerusalem. In Lk 19:38, Jesus’ ments. In the movie “Jerry Maguire,” ness. They interacted uneasily disciples greet him with the cheer, Dorothy sums up falling in love with with people in cities and “Blessed is the king who “You had me at ‘hello.’” In “As Good as towns. The closest mod- comes in the name of the it Gets,” Melvin’s rambling apology for ern analogue might be Lord! Peace in heaven, insulting Carol’s dress ends with the the popular depiction and glory in the highest!” emphatic “You make me want to be a of bikers; they are not Although the crowd’s better man.” The words strike Carol criminal, exactly, but transformation was like lightning, and her heart softens they are aggressive fleeting—a few days lat- toward him. In “Good Will Hunting,” and unpredictable, er they are howling for when Sean repeats “It’s not your fault,” and are probably not his crucifixion—the ex- his words give Will the freedom to let the first people one ample of Christ’s disciples someone love him. might invite over to The angels’ song to the shepherds meet a newborn. PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE contains another example of transfor- Like the rough heroes of early • With what words has God transformed mative words: “Glory to God in the Israel, the shepherds are entirely you? highest, and on earth peace to those on God’s kind of people, and are the • What are the words that Christ used to whom his favor rests.” By addressing ones he invites first. Today we imag- transform people you love? this message to the shepherds, Luke ine the angels of that first Christmas • Who in your life needs to hear Christ’s gives readers a place to enter the sto- singing to all of humanity, and in- word? What message will unlock the joy in ry through identification with them. deed they were. The only ones who their hearts? ART: TAD DUNNE TAD ART: There are many examples of characters could hear it, however, were the used this way throughout the Gospels. shepherds, and their transformation taking up the angelic hymn is a lesson Jesus’ disciples, the crowds and individ- is immediate and undeniable. for us. The unencumbered joy of the uals in search of healings or forgiveness “On earth, peace to those on whom shepherds lies waiting to be unlocked are all subjects with whom the reader his favor rests.” Luke does not tell us in us and in every person alive. For can identify. They draw us into the sto- why the shepherds needed to hear far too many, no one ever comes with ry and provide models for discipleship. this word of peace, but no one can the right word to let it free. This is our The shepherds play that role in doubt its transforming effect. They go Christmas duty. We fall in line along Luke’s nativity story. Western liter- without hesitation to find the child, with the angels, the shepherds, and ature (the book Heidi, for example) and joy overwhelms them when they Christ’s disciples as bearers of Christ’s often portrays shepherds as gentle do. Anyone who has had a similar transformative word. The joy it brings experience knows how transforma- is God’s Christmas gift to all humanity. MICHAEL R. SIMONE, S.J., is an assistant tive words will long continue to ring Editor’s note: Essays on the readings professor of Scripture at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. in one’s ears. Luke says the shepherds for the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass and repeated what they heard again and the readings for the Mass during the again to anyone who would listen. day on Christmas can be found online The angels’ message of peace turned at http://www.americamagazine.org/ intimidating, potentially dangerous sections/word.

38 America December 19-26, 2016 Keep and Ponder SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD, JAN. 1, 2017 Readings: Nm 6:22-27, Gal 4:4-7, Lk 2:16-21 Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart (Lk 2:19)

he church has found many truth of this tradition after all these the significance of his life becomes the reasons to mark the impor- centuries, but it is certain that Mary pattern for both collective and individ- Ttance of today’s feast. Aside becomes an important point of con- ual discipleship. from marking the calendar’s turn to tinuity in Luke’s Gospel. She is there The world first received Jesus the new year, an appropriate time for almost from the beginning, reflecting through Mary, but the task is not prayer and thanksgiving, this day is also on events in her son’s life and discern- yet complete. The liberation Jesus the eighth day after the birth of Christ. ing their meaning. She is there again preached has not yet become a reality. Older Catholics can probably remem- among his disciples, after almost ev- His disciples in the church are charged ber a time when this feast celebrated erything has changed, as they discover to bear him into the world. We have Jesus’ circumcision, which according their new mission in community. She now become the point of continuity to Jewish law took place on the eighth is throughout a symbol of unencum- that Mary was in Luke’s Gospel. When day after his birth. At various times in bered human love for Christ, bearing we give ourselves over to Christ’s mis- history, today’s feast also celebrated the him into the world and seeking him sion in big ways and small, we bring Holy Name of Jesus, a devotion we in the signs of the times. Today’s feast Christ into the world in new ways. now celebrate on Jan. 3. References to reminds us of her role in salvation his- each of those commemorations appear tory both as the mother of God and in today’s Gospel. Some of the earli- also the mother of the church. PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE est celebrations of this feast in Rome, The un-self-conscious way she • Who has helped you find Christ in however, focused attention on Mary’s gave herself to her son’s mission unexpected events, people or places? mission to be the mother of God, and is the best gift she has given to his • What actions of Christ do you return to it was that mission that inspired later disciples. Her freedom to say yes often in prayer? What grace has come generations of Christians. bore him into the world. After that, from keeping and pondering these events? • Who in your world needs Christ’s love? “Mary kept all these things, reflect- her thoughtful discernment made How can you bring it forth for them? ing on them in her heart.” An old tradi- her one of the first to understand tion says that Luke the evangelist knew Christ’s preaching and signs, and the Blessed Mother and wove her when his perplexed disciples gathered Part of our discipleship is continuing memories into his Gospel account. He together in the days before Pentecost, to seek out Christ as he is already at presents the annunciation, birth and her example must have given them work in the world, to let him surprise infancy of Jesus from her perspective, hope. Throughout the Acts of the us with all the unexpected twists and and he places her among the disciples Apostles, Luke shows the early church turns of salvation history as it contin- in the upper room in the days before behaving as Mary did, giving itself to ues to unfold. If we seek him in the the first Pentecost. His repeated state- completely to Christ’s mission and signs of the times, we can make his ment that she “kept these things and making time for discernment and re- presence known to all whose slavery reflected on them in her heart” is his flection as it bore Christ into the world. will end when his love appears. This is acknowledgement of the wisdom she Luke understands Mary as a symbol of what Mary proclaimed when she be- had accrued after a lifetime of contem- the church at such a fundamental level came the mother of God, and this is plating Christ and discerning his word that we can almost miss his emphasis. the mission his disciples can continue in the world. Her freedom to serve Christ’s mission, today following her example. It is impossible to ascertain the bring him into the world and ponder MICHAEL R. SIMONE

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